Iran may be able to restore enriched uranium after US strikes

According to the BBC, citing a senior Israeli official, Iran may be able to restore the underground-buried enriched uranium at one of the nuclear sites targeted by the US last month, specifically in Isfahan.

In a statement to journalists in Washington, the unnamed Israeli official said the nuclear facility in Isfahan was struck with submarine-launched cruise missiles on June 22 as part of the "Midnight Hammer" operation. According to the official, Israeli intelligence indicates that the enriched uranium was buried at that location.

Nevertheless, he noted that the process of restoring the enriched uranium would be extremely complex, and any attempt would likely lead to further Israeli strikes. “If Iran tries to restore this material, such actions will likely be detected,” he said.

Israel estimates that the strikes have set Iran’s nuclear program back by at least two years.

Former US President Donald Trump and members of his administration claimed that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “completely destroyed.” White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated: “As President Trump has repeatedly emphasized, the 'Midnight Hammer' operation completely destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities. The whole world is safer thanks to his decisive leadership.”

However, US intelligence agencies are approaching these claims with caution. In a preliminary report leaked from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), it was noted that the facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were seriously damaged but not completely destroyed.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated in testimony to Congress at the end of June that the destruction of Iran’s ability to produce metallic uranium had virtually eliminated its capacity to build nuclear weapons.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi told CBS in an interview: “The facilities were significantly damaged, but some parts remain intact. To be honest, saying ‘everything is gone’ would be incorrect.”

Iranian President Mahmoud Pezeshkian, in a recent interview with American commentator Tucker Carlson, confirmed that the facilities were “seriously damaged.” “That’s why we can’t access them at the moment,” he said. He added that a full assessment is currently impossible. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!