Iran's Enduring Uranium Supply Sparks Israeli Concerns

A senior Israeli official noted that some near-bomb-grade uranium from Iran’s stockpile survived recent attacks, raising concerns over potential nuclear developments. While Israeli intelligence warns of Iran's ambition to build a nuclear weapon, U.S. officials remain skeptical about Iran’s current intentions.

Israel's intelligence community indicated that some of Iran’s underground stockpile of near-bomb-grade enriched uranium has survived recent attacks by U.S. and Israeli forces last month. According to a senior Israeli official, this remaining uranium may still be accessible to Iran's nuclear scientists despite the military actions aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear program.

Interestingly, the official and other Israeli intelligence sources did not seem overly alarmed, asserting that any attempts by Iran to reclaim this uranium would likely be monitored, allowing Israel time to respond with further military action if necessary. The previous months saw President Trump’s administration confidently declaring that Iran's nuclear capabilities had been "obliterated" following the coordinated strikes.

As tensions rose late last year, Israel began contemplating military options against Iran due to concerns surrounding what the senior official described as a secret race to create a nuclear bomb. This intelligence was reportedly shared with U.S. officials. However, contrary to Israeli assessments, American intelligence had indicated leading up to the attacks that there was no indication Iran had made a definitive decision to pursue the development of a nuclear weapon.

Additionally, a recent report from a British parliamentary intelligence committee highlighted Iran's ongoing targeting of dissidents and intelligence-gathering efforts on Jewish and Israeli entities within the United Kingdom, adding another layer of complexity to the already tense geopolitical landscape.