Israel Confirms Iran’s Enriched Uranium Survived Airstrikes: “Impossible to Truly Destroy It”
Israel has confirmed that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile survived recent strikes on its nuclear facilities, prompting urgent US-Iran negotiations to secure and remove the material. The issue, critical to preventing Iran’s nuclear weapon development, remains a focal point amid concerns over Tehran’s lingering capabilities.
Israel has acknowledged that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium likely survived the joint US-Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities in June 2025, remaining buried under the rubble of damaged sites. A senior official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that the uranium, critical to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, was not destroyed during Operation Rising Lion, which targeted key sites like Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. “The enriched material was not damaged during Operation Rising Lion,” the official stated. “It’s impossible to truly destroy it.” The official added, “To our knowledge, the material is buried in the facilities that were hit, we want discussions to extract it as part of negotiations between Iran and the United States.”
The fate of Iran’s estimated 408.6 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, enough for up to nine nuclear warheads, has become a central issue in ongoing US-Iran talks following the June 23 ceasefire. Netanyahu, in a video statement earlier today addressed the issue, saying, “The same thing we said about Iran, removing the nuclear threat. If this is achieved through 60 days of negotiations between the United States and Iran, all the better. But if not, it will be achieved another way.” These remarks follow recent meetings with President Donald Trump, where extracting and relocating Iran’s uranium stockpile outside its borders was discussed as a key goal of any agreement.
Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned in a CBS interview two weeks ago, “Frankly, you cannot claim everything is gone and nothing is there.” He noted, “Iran still has industrial and technological capabilities, and if it wants, it could restart in a very short time.” Despite the destruction of Natanz’s above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant and damage to Fordow and Isfahan, some underground stockpiles remain intact, per Israeli intelligence. Social media posts on X highlight concerns, with one user stating, “Iran’s uranium surviving is a major setback, diplomacy must secure it.” Amid fears of Iran rebuilding its program, the US and Israel are pushing for a deal to neutralize the threat, with Trump previously claiming the nuclear program was “obliterated,” though intelligence suggests otherwise.