Exclusive: Iran sealed uranium cache and placed mines amid fears of US operation to seize material
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- Iran has intensified efforts to secure its near bomb-grade uranium by collapsing tunnels and booby-trapping entrances with explosive mines, making access more difficult and dangerous, according to US intelligence sources.
- This escalation complicates the Trump administration’s proposed deal with Iran to remove and destroy the enriched uranium, raising concerns about who will undertake the risky excavation and de-mining process.
- While a tentative agreement may require Iran to hand over the uranium for destruction and removal, conflicting accounts and unclear terms persist, with Iran possibly using the fortified sites to obscure full compliance.
- The uranium is believed to be mostly stored in collapsed tunnels at the Isfahan nuclear complex, and removing it would necessitate specialized equipment and expertise from the US National Nuclear Security Administration.
- Even if a deal is reached soon, technical negotiations and a complex removal operation expected to take at least two weeks remain, with risks heightened by Iran’s recent fortifications and previous US military hesitations.