Repeated U.S.-Israel airstrikes fail to halt Iran's nuclear program; enriched uranium stockpile could produce ten nuclear bombs
According to The New York Times, U.S. military strikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025 and 2026 have only delayed, not stopped, Iran’s nuclear program.
Currently, the exact locations where Iran stores its highly enriched uranium remain unknown, as Iran has barred International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors from accessing its most sensitive nuclear sites. According to IAEA estimates, Iran may still possess approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%—most of which is believed to be located in the Isfahan region. If further enriched, this amount could be sufficient to manufacture between nine and ten nuclear warheads. U.S. intelligence agencies believe Iran still retains access to this material.
Although Iran’s nuclear infrastructure at Natanz and Fordo has suffered serious damage, it has not been completely destroyed. Near Natanz, Iran continues constructing an underground complex beneath Pikar Mountains for producing centrifuges. James Acton, a physicist specializing in Iranian nuclear issues, stated that without international oversight, Tehran could develop a nuclear weapon within one year.
In June 2025, U.S. forces conducted strikes on nuclear targets in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. In a new round of conflict earlier this year, U.S. and Israeli aircraft again bombed Natanz, with the IAEA reporting that the access tunnels leading to underground uranium enrichment facilities—used to produce uranium enriched up to 60%—were destroyed.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872942332011527/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.