Iran Amassed 11 Tons of Uranium After US Left Nuclear Deal
Mediaite • • world
Key Points:
- Since the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, Iran accumulated about 11 tons of enriched uranium, significantly expanding its nuclear capacity and breaching enrichment limits set by the accord.
- Iran increased uranium enrichment from low levels to 20% purity in 2021 and further to 60%, approaching the 90% weapons-grade threshold, despite efforts by the Biden administration to revive the deal.
- In June 2025, after Trump’s re-election, Operation Midnight Hammer targeted key Iranian nuclear sites, causing significant damage and leading Iran to halt IAEA inspections, leaving much of the uranium stockpile’s status unverified.
- Some enriched uranium is believed to be buried under debris or stored in hardened underground facilities, but satellite imagery and expert analysis cannot confirm its exact condition or accessibility.
- Analysts caution that undisclosed enrichment sites may exist, particularly near Isfahan, raising concerns about the full extent of Iran’s nuclear capabilities despite U.S. claims of limited immediate use of the remaining stockpile.
