Iran Sealed Uranium Cache and Placed Mines Amid Fears of US Operation to Seize Material: Report
Satellite images show Iran blocking tunnel entrances and mine-laying at uranium sites, raising doubts about any deal to remove the stockpile.
- In recent weeks, Iran escalated efforts to secure its HEU stockpile by collapsing tunnels and booby-trapping entrances with explosive mines, making access to roughly half a tonne of highly enriched uranium significantly more difficult and dangerous.
- Following reports of a possible U.S. ground operation, Tehran reinforced underground sites, likely spurred by President Donald Trump's previous signaling that he might order the military to seize the material.
- Scott Roecker, former head of the National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Nuclear Material Removal, warned that fortifications create verification gaps, fearing Tehran could claim portions of the uranium are "irretrievable."
- Negotiators near an agreement requiring Tehran to surrender its enriched uranium, though extraction would require specialized equipment from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and at least two weeks to complete.
- Former defense minister Yoav Gallant argued the U.S. and Israel missed a strategic window to uproot the program by force, yet Trump maintains that securing the material remains a top priority during negotiations.
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46 Articles
Tehran is said to have secured its highly enriched uranium even better in recent weeks. According to a media report, tunnels were spilled and accesses were mined to prevent possible access by the US. Experts warn that this could also make later control or removal of the material more difficult.
Iranian authorities have significantly tightened security measures around its own stockpile of enriched uranium in recent weeks.
Iran booby-traps uranium sites with mines as peace deal with US takes shape: Report
Iran has fortified tunnels holding highly enriched uranium as it moves closer to a possible deal with the US. The move could complicate verification, recovery and removal of the stockpile even if an agreement is sealed.
A CNN article released on Saturday, 13 June, states that Tehran is reportedly blocking access to uranium sites two months after the latter has indicated its intention to recover the stocks.
Iran mined nuclear site to deter raid on enriched uranium: report
Iran has, in recent weeks, deliberately collapsed tunnels and mined entrances to its bombed Isfahan nuclear complex in a bid to stop the US from launching a raid to retrieve the Islamic Republic’s store of highly enriched uranium that is believed to be buried at the site, CNN reported Saturday. The report, citing five sources...
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