Tensions remain high between the United States and Iran following recent events, with concerns escalating over missing uranium. U.S. Vice President JD Vance revealed that a 400kg stockpile of enriched uranium, capable of producing up to 10 nuclear weapons, is unaccounted for. The disappearance occurred after the U.S. targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities with ‘bunker buster’ bombs. The uranium is enriched to 60%, close to the level needed for weapons-grade material.
During interviews, Vance suggested the uranium may have been buried. He stressed that the U.S. aim was to disable Iran’s ability to convert the enriched fuel into a nuclear weapon, targeting the program, not the nation. He declined to give details on the extent of the damage. However, he expressed confidence in the success of the operation.
Prior to the strikes, satellite images showed trucks near the Fordow nuclear plant. Both the U.S. and Israel suspect the material was relocated, possibly to a storage facility near Isfahan. The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, emphasized the need for inspections and cautioned that military actions risk hindering peaceful solutions to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.