Iran’s government recently reiterated its intention to increase the enrichment of nearly weapons-grade uranium, following the recent bombing by the United States. This declaration comes in the aftermath of Israel’s assertion that a portion of Iran’s nuclear fuel endured the onslaught of American airstrikes during last month’s 12-Day War. Tehran confessed that the American-led Operation Midnight Hammer, which witnessed a squadron of B-2 Spirit bombers dropping multiple GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker buster bombs, brought about ‘substantial and severe’ destruction. However, the authorities emphasized that their resolve to continue uranium enrichment – purporting it for peaceable civilian purposes – remains unbroken.
The uranium that is the center of discussions is enriched up to 60 percent, a figure significantly above the standard for civilian usage yet currently falling short of a weapons-grade level. This particular batch of uranium compound, if pushed through further processing to achieve a 90 percent enrichment level, could theoretically be leveraged to create over nine nuclear weapons. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a representative from the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission communicated to the Mehr News Agency on a succinct note, ‘We will never dissociate from our legal prerogative to enrich uranium.’
Boroujerdi continued to argue that enrichment is a fundamental national right that Iran needs to pursue based on their national needs. He further added that airstrikes cannot obliterate this knowledge; instead, it can only emerge stronger. The situation arrives at a time when the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have collectively decided to reimpose stringent United Nations sanctions on Iran by the impending end of August, barring significant progression towards a nuclear pact.
Ali Velayati, a top adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, quoted by the state-affiliated news agency IRNA, put forth a firm stand, ‘If the negotiations [with the US] are pegged on the proviso of halting enrichment, such discussions would cease to exist.’ Boroujerdi further added, reinforcing the Iranian stand, ‘We would absolutely not bow down to Western insistence on zero enrichment.’
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nation’s lead nuclear watchdog, issued a stern caution indicating that Iran possesses the capability to resume its uranium enrichment operations within a matter of a few months. Doubts persist concerning Iran’s insidious removal of 408.6 kilos of uranium from its most sensitive sites prior to the American raids, stoking fears about the secret diversion and stockpiling of nuclear material elsewhere within the country.
On the contrary, an Israeli official displayed little anxiety about the residual stockpile, assuring that any attempts at its recovery would undoubtedly invite the attention of Israeli intelligence. However, Rafael Grossi, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accepted the presence of potential stockpiles of enriched uranium in the nation. He expressed, ‘We don’t have a definitive answer regarding the possible locations of this enriched material. Therefore, requiring some clarity at some point.’
Grossi emphasized the necessity for his organization to verify and assess the situation accurately, ‘We are required to determine, to affirm what exactly is the content, its location, and what transpired.’ Grossi added. The 12-Day War, a significant conflict in modern history, unfolded on June 13 when Israel set into motion Operation Rising Lion. It was an intricate military operation that primarily aimed at specific nuclear sites in Iran.
The Iranian government reacted by initiating a daily barrage of ballistic missile strikes aimed at Israel, though their efforts yielded no damage to strategic targets. The situation underscores the precariousness of the geopolitical landscape, potentially threatening global peace and security. The international community waits with bated breath, observing the development of these factors that could have long-standing implications.
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