Iran's enriched Uranium likely survived US airstrike – FT
Iran may be capable of producing nuclear weapons (Getty Images)
Iran has reportedly managed to safeguard its stockpile of enriched uranium. The material was not located at the Fordow facility at the time of the US strike, according to the Financial Times.
Unnamed officials told the publication that the untouched status of Iran's enriched uranium is supported by preliminary intelligence assessments shared with European governments.
According to them, the intelligence indicates that Iran's stockpile — amounting to 408 kilograms of uranium enriched nearly to weapons-grade — was not present at the Fordow facility at the time of the US strike last weekend.
According to assessments, the enriched uranium had been distributed across various other locations.
These findings cast doubt on US President Donald Trump's claim that the bombing "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program.
At the same time, FT sources clarified that European governments are still awaiting a full intelligence report on the extent of the damage caused by the US strike on Iran.
Experts warn that if Tehran has retained its uranium stockpile and possesses advanced centrifuges at undisclosed sites, it may still be capable of producing fissile material for nuclear weapons.
US strike on Iran
The United States launched missile strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities last weekend. One of the primary targets was the Fordow facility, located deep underground. According to experts, only US bunker-busting munitions could potentially destroy it.
Following the strike, US President Donald Trump repeatedly claimed that Iran's nuclear program had been completely destroyed.
On June 26, the American leader also asserted that Iran did not have time to remove its enriched uranium from the nuclear sites targeted by the US.
