President Donald Trump, while speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday, declared that the Islamic Republic of Iran has refused to allow international inspections of its nuclear facilities and has not ceased its uranium enrichment activities. The statement came as the president was en route to New Jersey following the Independence Day celebrations.
Trump believes that Iran's nuclear program has been permanently disrupted by the recent military actions undertaken by the United States and Israel. Nonetheless, he cautioned that Tehran possesses the capability to restart its nuclear endeavors in alternative locations if it so chooses. The president mentioned that he intends to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a scheduled meeting at the White House on Monday.
The backdrop of this development is a series of military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Three weeks ago, Israel initiated attacks against these facilities during a 12-day conflict with Iran. The United States followed suit with B-2 Stealth Bombers targeting the Fordow nuclear site on June 27, while nuclear-powered submarines launched ballistic missiles at the Isfahan and Natanz facilities.
Since these coordinated strikes, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has faced obstacles in carrying out inspections of Iranian nuclear sites. Agency Director Rafael Grossi has highlighted that regaining access is a priority. However, Iran's parliament has passed legislation suspending cooperation with the IAEA, conditioning any future collaboration on guarantees that Iran's nuclear infrastructure will not be targeted again.
Amid these heightened tensions, the IAEA has removed its last remaining inspectors from Iran. This move comes as both the U.S. and Israel allege that Iran has been enriching uranium with the intent of developing nuclear weapons—a claim that Iran vehemently denies, maintaining that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressed these developments in a meeting last month, warning against what he termed as external pressure campaigns. Iran has also accused the IAEA of facilitating the strikes, following a critical report by the agency that led to a resolution by its Board of Governors, which found Iran in violation of non-proliferation commitments.
The recent military operations have reportedly destroyed or heavily damaged Iran's three main uranium enrichment sites. However, there is uncertainty surrounding the fate of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, which was known to include over 880 pounds enriched to 60% purity—an enrichment level close to weapons-grade material. It remains to be seen whether this material has been destroyed, relocated, or is still intact following the bombardments.
