GENEVA, June 30 (Alliance News): The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has stated that Iran could resume uranium enrichment within a few months, contradicting claims made by former US President Donald Trump that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had been “completely destroyed.”
Speaking to international media on Saturday, Grossi confirmed that recent US airstrikes caused “severe damage” to three Iranian nuclear-related sites.
However, he emphasized that the facilities were not entirely demolished and that Iran retained the capacity to resume its nuclear program relatively quickly.
According to the BBC, Grossi said: “The facilities have sustained significant damage, but based on our assessment, they are not beyond repair. Iran could technically begin enriching uranium again within months if it chooses to do so.”
This statement stands in contrast to Trump’s assertion earlier in the week in which he claimed that the US military had “completely destroyed” Iran’s nuclear capabilities during its latest operations.
Trump had presented the airstrikes as a decisive blow to Tehran’s alleged nuclear ambitions.
Grossi’s remarks have introduced a new dimension to the ongoing debate over Iran’s nuclear program and the international community’s approach to containing it.
The IAEA chief reiterated the importance of diplomatic engagement and transparency, warning that any misjudgment or misinformation could fuel further regional instability.
The issue comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with the recent ceasefire between Iran and Israel still holding.
Iran has yet to respond officially to the IAEA’s latest assessment, but past statements from Tehran have emphasized that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes.
Grossi called for continued international monitoring and renewed efforts to bring Iran back to the negotiating table under the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear agreement that has been under strain since the US withdrawal in 2018.
Global leaders are expected to discuss the issue at the upcoming UN Security Council session, amid growing calls for a balanced approach that ensures both regional security and Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy.
