Report: Is Iran Missing 400 kg of Uranium Nuclear Threshold Near?

According to U.S. Vice President JD Vance in an interview with ABC News, a 400 kg stockpile of uranium—sufficient for the production of up to ten nuclear weapons—has gone missing following Washington’s use of six ‘bunker busters’ on three Iranian nuclear sites last week. The absent uranium, regarded as a potent negotiating tool for Iran whenever it chooses to restart discussions with the US regarding a new nuclear agreement, is enriched to 60 percent. For it to be utilized as a nuclear weapon, it must be enriched to around 90 percent.

Reports suggest that Iran may have relocated its stockpile and some equipment to a secret location just days before the attack, a claim echoed by Israeli officials in statements to The New York Times.

Before the US strike, satellite images revealed a queue of 16 trucks outside the Fordow nuclear plant—an underground facility believed to be immune to most missile strikes. This prompted Israel to request the early deployment of US B-2 ‘Spirit’ bombers and GBU-37 ‘bunker buster’ bombs on Sunday.

The Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities were bombed.

Images taken after the attack revealed considerable damage to all three, but the trucks were absent.

However, it remains uncertain exactly what was relocated and to where, despite the strong beliefs of the US and Israel that it was transferred to another underground storage site close to the ancient city of Isfahan.

Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), a worldwide nuclear oversight organization, stated that the last inspection occurred one week prior to Israel’s initial assault on Iran. Last week, Grossi informed the United Nations Security Council that it is “essential” for the IAEA to resume inspections at the earliest opportunity.

He warned that ongoing military escalation delays this “indispensable work” and reduces the chances of a diplomatic solution to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

He warned that ongoing military escalation delays this “indispensable work” and reduces the chances of a diplomatic solution to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Does Iran possess nuclear weapons or weapons-grade nuclear material?

For a long time, Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes.

However, the assertion that it is developing nuclear weapons was the warning sign Israel signaled prior to its assault. Tel Aviv even implied that Tehran was approaching a ‘point of no return’ in the development of nuclear weapons.

Following Israel’s assaults, Iran issued a threat to exit the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is designed to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation within the international system. Takht Ravanchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, dismissed assertions that the program would be abandoned. “Nobody can dictate our actions…”

The American narrative, however, has been somewhat confusing in this respect.

A CNN report from the previous week indicated that following Israel’s initial missile strikes, US intelligence indicated Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons and estimated it would take at least three years for Iran to develop one.

Intel also indicated that Israel’s strikes had only delayed Iran’s progress by a few months, mainly because most of the research is conducted deep underground in facilities like Fordow, which are impervious to Israeli missiles.

A high-ranking official, however, informed CNN that Tehran possesses all the necessary components.

Further confusion arose when Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, contradicted her previous statement to Congress several months prior that Iran was not developing nuclear weapons.

However, on Saturday she stated that Iran could manufacture them “within weeks.”

The change occurred after President Donald Trump stated that her previous information was “wrong.”

Previously, Trump had provided Iran with a two-week deadline to establish a new nuclear safeguard agreement. However, he took action after intelligence confirmed that Israel could not effectively neutralize Iranian facilities without US support.

Trump stated on ABC Sunday morning, just hours before the US attack, that while we are not involved in it, it’s possible we could… He urged Iran and Israel to agree independently “before it is too late.”

Following the strikes, Trump asserted that Iran’s nuclear program had been “completely and utterly obliterated” by the “bunker busters” and a barrage of Tomahawk missiles used as decoys. He commended the 37-hour military operation that involved seven B-2 bombers flying radio silent and nonstop from a Missouri air base.