Iran has the ability to start enriching uranium again, for a possible bomb, in a “issue of months,” said Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA) on Saturday. Grossi said US attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities last weekend caused serious but “non -total” damage, contradicting Donald Trump’s statement that the places were “totally destroyed.”
“Frankly, it cannot be said that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there,” Grossi told CBS News, BBC media partner in the US.
claiming that Iran was close to building a bomb. Later, launching bombs in three nuclear facilities of Iran: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahã.
Organize your financial life with AI
In an interview with CBS, Grossi said that Tehran could have, “in a matter of months, some cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium.”
– Iran still has industrial and technological abilities. So if you want, you can start doing it again, ”he added.
The AIEA is not the first organ to suggest that Iran’s nuclear abilities can still continue. Earlier this week, a preliminary pentagon preliminary assessment concluded that US attacks probably only delayed the program in months. But Trump said he would consider “absolutely” bombing Iran again if intelligence found that the country could enrich uranium to worrying levels.
Continues after advertising
The head of the Iran’s Armed Forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi, said on Sunday that Tehran was not convinced that Israel would fulfill the ceasefire.
– We did not start the war, but we respond to the aggressor with all our power. Since we have serious questions about complying with the enemy’s commitments, including ceasefire, we are ready to respond tightly if attacked again, ”said Mousavi, quoted by state TV.
In a speech last Thursday, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the attacks have not reached anything significant. Foreign Minister ABBAS ARAGHCHI, however, said the damage was “excessive and serious.”
Continues after advertising
Read too:
Irão x
Iran’s already tense relationship with AIEA was even more challenged on Wednesday, when its parliament decided to suspend cooperation with the atomic surveillance body, accusing the AIEA of being on the side of Israel and the US.
Tehran rejected the AIEA’s request to inspect the damaged facilities, and on Friday, Araghi said in X that “Grossi’s insistence on visiting the bombed places under the pretext of safeguards has no meaning and possibly has malignant intentions.”
Continues after advertising
Israel and the US attacked Iran after the AIEA concluded last month that Tehran violated its obligations of non -proliferation for the first time in 20 years. Iran, in turn, insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and for only civil use.
Despite the Iranian refusal to work with his organization, Grossi said he expected to be able to negotiate with Tehran.
“I have to sit with Iran and analyze it, because, in the end, this whole question, after military attacks, will have to have a lasting solution, which can only be diplomatic,” he said.
Continues after advertising
According to a 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers, Iran was not allowed to enrich uranium above 3.67% of purity – the level required for fuel in commercial nuclear power plants – and was not allowed to perform any enrichment in its Fordow plant for 15 years.
However, Trump abandoned the deal during his first term in 2018, saying he was very little to prevent the way for a bomb, and restored US sanctions.
Iran retaliated increasingly violating restrictions – particularly those related to enrichment. The country resumed the enrichment in Fordow in 2021 and accumulated uranium enriched at 60% sufficient to potentially manufacture nine nuclear bombs, according to AEEA.
