Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Thursday that the country’s enriched uranium stockpile now lies “under the rubble of bombed facilities” and is inaccessible, according to AFP.
“All of our material is under the rubble of the attacked facilities,” Araghchi said during a televised interview, adding that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is currently examining the sites.
Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during Operation Rising Lion targeted Natanz and Isfahan, while an additional U.S. strike using B-2 stealth bombers reportedly damaged the Fordow facility. Araghchi’s comments mark the first by an Iranian official regarding the state of the uranium, coming as Tehran is in negotiations with the IAEA over the reinstatement of nuclear inspections.
Iran and IAEA Deliver Conflicting Messages on Inspections
The latest announcement confirmed that an agreement had been reached between the two sides, yet both issued conflicting statements about the scope of inspections and who would oversee them.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi presented the deal to the agency’s Board of Governors as one that restored “full” access for inspectors to all nuclear sites within the Islamic Republic. Grossi said the technical document outlined “a clear understanding of the procedures for inspection, notifications, and implementation,” including reporting on the bombed facilities and the nuclear material stored there.
However, shortly after Grossi’s optimistic remarks, Araghchi pushed back, stressing that the deal does not guarantee UN inspectors access to Iranian nuclear sites and that Tehran is seeking further discussions on how the inspections will be carried out.
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