IAEA director states Iran able to reestablish nuclear program in matter of months
(MENAFN)
Despite recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Iran could potentially resume uranium enrichment within months, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi.
Despite recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Iran could potentially resume uranium enrichment within months, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi.
In a Sunday interview with CBS News, Grossi acknowledged that the strikes caused significant damage to Iranian facilities such as Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. However, he noted that many critical elements remain intact. “Some of the assets are still standing,” he said. “They could have a few cascades of centrifuges operational within months—maybe even sooner.”
Grossi emphasized Iran’s advanced nuclear expertise and industrial capacity. “Iran is a very sophisticated country in terms of nuclear technology. You can’t erase knowledge or dismantle technical capability once it exists,” he said.
He argued that military action alone cannot eliminate concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, calling instead for a diplomatic resolution. “This should motivate us to realize that this issue won’t be resolved by military means alone—it will take an agreement,” Grossi added, expressing optimism that IAEA inspectors may eventually regain access to Iran’s facilities.
Tehran has barred IAEA inspections, accusing the agency of misrepresenting facts in a recent report—a report Iran claims served as a pretext for the strikes. Grossi pushed back, saying, “Who seriously believes this conflict started because of an IAEA report? And, in any case, the information in it wasn’t new.”
His remarks follow a 12-day confrontation between Iran and Israel, during which joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. President Donald Trump declared the strikes had “completely obliterated” Iran’s capabilities and warned of further attacks if Tehran continued pursuing nuclear weapons.
Despite this, various U.S. media reports indicate that the damage may have been less extensive than claimed. Iran, for its part, insists its nuclear program is peaceful and maintains its right to enrich uranium for civilian energy needs—not for weapons production.
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