U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that Iran’s nuclear capabilities have been “obliterated” following recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, citing what he described as “collected intelligence,” according to a report by Reuters.
However, this statement contradicts a leaked U.S. intelligence assessment, which concluded that the strikes have only delayed Iran’s nuclear programme by a few months.
Meanwhile, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has emphasized that the full extent of the damage, particularly at the underground Fordow enrichment facility, has yet to be thoroughly assessed. “No one, including the IAEA, is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordow,” Grossi said, although he added the damage is expected to be “very significant.”
Grossi also stated on Wednesday that his foremost priority is to redeploy IAEA inspectors to Iran’s nuclear sites in order to evaluate the effects of the recent U.S. and Israeli military actions and verify the current levels of enriched uranium stockpiles.
“This is the number one priority,” Grossi said at a press conference held during a security meeting in Austria. He noted the urgency of returning to critical facilities, including the three sites where uranium enrichment was taking place before the Israeli airstrikes on June 13.
When asked about Iran’s communication regarding its enriched uranium—especially uranium enriched to 60% purity, which is near weapons-grade—Grossi referred to a letter from Tehran dated June 13. In it, Iran indicated it would take unspecified “special measures” to protect its nuclear materials and infrastructure.
