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IAEA Says Most of Iran’s 60% Enriched Uranium Likely Still at Isfahan

Blocked inspections leave the stockpile's status unverified.

Rafael Grossi, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General and a candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, speaks during an interview at U.N. headquarters, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Rafael Grossi, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General and a candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, speaks during an interview at U.N. headquarters, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Rafael Grossi, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General and a candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, speaks during an interview at U.N. headquarters, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
FILE - Rafael Grossi speaks during an event at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Overview

  • The IAEA chief said Tuesday in an AP interview that most of Iran’s highly enriched uranium likely remains at the Isfahan site, which inspectors have not visited since June 2025.
  • Airbus photos from June 9, 2025 showed a truck with 18 blue containers entering an Isfahan tunnel, and the agency believes those containers still hold the material.
  • Iran holds 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, with roughly 200 kilograms thought to sit in Isfahan tunnels, a stockpile Grossi has warned could support up to 10 nuclear bombs if weaponized.
  • Grossi said Iran could still reach the material if it chose to retrieve it, and he urged access to Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow while discussing removal or dilution with Russia and others.
  • A September plan to restart inspections fell apart after Britain, France and Germany moved to restore UN sanctions, and talks since then have stalled even after a February round that included the IAEA.