Washington, DC [US], June 30 (ANI): International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief Rafael Grossi stated that recent U.S. strikes on Iran fell short of causing total damage to its nuclear program and that Tehran could resume uranium enrichment “in a matter of months.” His remarks contradict President Donald Trump’s claim that the strikes had set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by “decades,” CNN reported.
Grossi’s comments align with an initial assessment from the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency, which suggested that last week’s U.S. strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities did not destroy core components of the program and likely delayed it by only several months.
While a final military and intelligence assessment is still pending, Trump has repeatedly asserted that the U.S. had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran began earlier this month when Israel launched an unprecedented strike, claiming it aimed to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran, meanwhile, maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
In response, the U.S. targeted three critical Iranian nuclear sites before a ceasefire took effect. The extent of the resulting damage has been the subject of significant debate.
Although U.S. military officials have disclosed some details about the strike planning in recent days, they have provided no new evidence to confirm the effectiveness of the operation against Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Following classified briefings this week, Republican lawmakers admitted the strikes may not have destroyed all of Iran’s nuclear materials. However, they argued that complete elimination was never the military’s objective, according to CNN.
Separately, The Washington Post reported on Sunday that U.S. intelligence intercepted Iranian communications in which senior officials acknowledged that the attacks were not as devastating as they had feared.
When asked about these varying assessments, Grossi said, “This hourglass approach in weapons of mass destruction is not a good idea.”
“The capacities they have are there. They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium—or less than that,” Grossi said, as quoted by CNN. “Frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there.”
“It is clear that there has been severe damage, but it’s not total damage,” he continued. “Iran has the capacities there—industrial and technological. So, if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again.”
CNN also reported that Grossi said the IAEA has resisted pressure to declare whether Iran possessed nuclear weapons or was close to acquiring them prior to the strikes.
About The Author
