Iran has enough enriched uranium for ten nuclear bombs, says United Nations watchdog
Iran has enough enriched uranium for ten nuclear bombs, says United Nations watchdog
Edith M. LedererThu, April 30, 2026 at 6:38 AM UTC
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The majority of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is believed to remain at its Isfahan nuclear complex, a site that has endured airstrikes last year and further attacks during this year's U.S.-Israeli conflict, according to the head of the U.N. nuclear agency.
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated in an interview on Tuesday that the agency possesses satellite images illustrating the impact of the recent U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Iran, and that "we continue to get information." IAEA inspections at Isfahan ceased in June 2025, when Israel initiated a 12-day war that saw the United States bomb three Iranian nuclear sites.
This stockpile could potentially enable Iran to construct as many as 10 nuclear bombs, should it choose to weaponize its program, Grossi told The last year.
The head of the U.N. nuclear agency says the majority of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is still believed to be at its Isfahan nuclear complex, shown here (Vantor)
The U.N. nuclear watchdog estimates that a significant portion of Iran's highly enriched uranium "was stored there in June 2025 when the 12-day war broke out, and it has been there ever since," Grossi said. He added, "We haven't been able to inspect or to reject that the material is there and that the seals — the IAEA seals — remain there. I hope we'll be able to do that, so what I tell you is our best estimate."
Satellite imagery from Airbus reportedly shows a truck carrying 18 blue containers entering a tunnel at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center on June 9, 2025, just before last year's conflict began. These containers, thought to hold highly enriched uranium, are likely still at the site.
Beyond Isfahan, the IAEA is also seeking to inspect Iran's nuclear facilities at Natanz and Fordo, which are also known to contain nuclear material. As a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Iran is obligated to grant the IAEA access to its nuclear facilities, Grossi underscored.
The agency reports that Iran possesses 972 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Grossi previously indicated that the IAEA believes approximately 440 pounds of this material is stored within tunnels at the Isfahan site.
Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. President Donald Trump cited denying Iran the capability to develop nuclear weapons as a primary reason for the U.S. involvement in the war, even while asserting that the strikes last summer "obliterated" the country's atomic program.
This stockpile could potentially enable Iran to construct as many as 10 nuclear bombs, should it choose to weaponize its program, according to Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (Copyright 2026 The . All rights reserved.)
Grossi revealed at a U.N. press conference on Wednesday that Iran declared a new uranium enrichment facility at Isfahan last June, and IAEA inspectors were scheduled to visit on the day the strikes commenced. He noted that this particular facility appeared to have been spared in attacks on Isfahan both this year and last.
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The IAEA has engaged in discussions with Russia and other nations regarding the potential removal of Iran's highly enriched uranium from the country. Such an operation would necessitate either a political agreement or a substantial U.S. military intervention in hostile territory.
Trump stated on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his offer to assist the United States in managing Iran's enriched uranium. Trump recounted telling Putin that it was more crucial for the Russian leader to "be involved with ending the war with Ukraine." Grossi, for his part, emphasized that "what's going to be important is that that material leaves Iran" or is blended to reduce its enrichment.
US President Donald Trump has shared an image on social media, depicting a map of the Strait of Hormuz with the words, 'Strait of Trump' across the vital oil passageway (Getty Images)
The IAEA participated in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in February but has not been involved in recent ceasefire negotiations mediated by Pakistan. The agency has, however, held separate discussions with the U.S. and informal talks with Iran.
Trump informed Axios on Wednesday that he rejected Iran's latest proposal, which suggested postponing nuclear program discussions but ending its control over the Strait of Hormuz—a vital shipping route for oil and natural gas—if the U.S. lifted its blockade and ended the war.
Grossi reminded reporters on Wednesday that Iran's nuclear program in 2015, when it agreed to curb its activities under a deal with six major powers, was considerably smaller and utilized only one type of centrifuge.
Trump withdrew the U.S. from that agreement in 2018. The IAEA chief characterized current negotiations as a "completely different ballgame" due to Iran's "exponential progress" in uranium enrichment, its use of advanced centrifuges, different compounds, and new facilities.
Trump informed Axios on Wednesday that he rejected Iran's latest proposal, which suggested postponing nuclear program discussions but ending its control over the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)
Achieving a deal would require "political will" from Tehran, Grossi told the AP, stressing that "Iran has to be convinced that it is important to negotiate." While both Iran's leaders and President Trump express willingness to negotiate, Grossi observed that "where the frustration kicks in, apparently for both, is that they do not seem to come to agreement, or be at an eye-to-eye level, on what needs to be done first, or on how."
Despite the impasse, Grossi, who identifies as a negotiator seeking a "flicker of hope," noted that "one important thing is that there is apparently an interest on both sides to come to an agreement."
Asked about Iran's seriousness in pursuing a deal, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News this week that Iranians are skilled negotiators aiming to buy time, and any agreement must be "one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point."
Source: “AOL Breaking”
