Iran may have secretly moved around 400 kg of uranium, enough to make 9 or 10 nuclear bombs, just before the US carried out airstrikes on its three main nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The uranium was reportedly hidden in special barrels small enough to fit in the trunks of about 10 cars and taken to an unknown location.
Both US Vice President JD Vance and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, confirmed that this large amount of uranium is missing. Experts believe Iran may use it as a powerful bargaining tool during any future peace talks.

US Vice President JD Vance told ABC News that the nearly weapons-grade uranium will be an important topic when peace talks with Iran begin. He said the US plans to take action on the uranium in the coming weeks and will discuss it with Iranian officials. Vance also said that the recent US airstrikes have seriously delayed Iran’s nuclear plans because the country no longer has the machines needed to turn the uranium into weapons.

Meanwhile, Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN’s nuclear agency (IAEA), told CNN that Iran had taken steps to protect the uranium. Later, he confirmed to The New York Times via text that he was talking about the same 400 kg of uranium. He added that the material was last seen by UN inspectors about a week before Israel carried out its airstrikes on Iran.

The uranium stockpile Iran moved was enriched to 60%, which is below the 90% level needed to make a nuclear bomb. This uranium had been kept deep inside another nuclear facility near Isfahan. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies showed heavy damage at all three of Iran’s nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, after the US airstrikes. The pictures showed large holes, broken buildings, and dust. US President Donald Trump praised the stealth bombers that dropped 30,000-pound bombs on the sites and said the attack had completely “destroyed” the facilities.

Israel also carried out strikes, with both countries aiming to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Although the damage is clear, Israeli military experts said the strikes did not destroy the sites. Satellite images of the Fordow facility before and after the attack caused speculation. Before the strike, 16 cargo trucks were seen near the entrance. In the after-images, the trucks had disappeared. US officials said the trucks had moved unidentified items about half a mile away in just 24 hours. Intelligence agencies in the US and Israel were aware of this movement but waited for Trump’s order before acting.

According to Iranian state media, all three nuclear sites were evacuated before the attacks. On Monday, Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran after 12 days of fighting. Although Iran rejected the offer at first, it later agreed. Israel also accepted and Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked Trump. However, just hours later, Israel launched more strikes, saying Iran had broken the truce. Iran denied the claim.