IAEA Chief Warns: Iran Could Restart Nuclear Enrichment Within Months Despite Strikes

Despite recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting its nuclear infrastructure, Iran could resume uranium enrichment in a matter of months, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi.

In an interview with CBS News aired Sunday, Grossi revealed that Iran’s nuclear sites — including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — sustained “a very serious level of damage,” yet some of the key infrastructure remains intact.

“The capacities they have are there,” Grossi explained. “In a matter of months, they could be spinning a few cascades of centrifuges and producing enriched uranium.” He noted that even Iran may not yet fully understand the extent of the destruction to its facilities.

Grossi emphasized that Iran's technical knowledge and industrial capacity cannot be eliminated. “You cannot disinvent this,” he said. “Iran is a very sophisticated country in terms of nuclear technology. You cannot undo the knowledge or capacities they have.”

Diplomacy Over Military Action

Grossi cautioned against relying on force alone to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, asserting that a long-term solution will require diplomacy. “You are not going to solve this in a definitive way militarily,” he said. “You are going to have an agreement.”

He also expressed hope that IAEA inspectors would soon regain access to Iranian nuclear sites. Iran recently barred inspections, accusing the agency of bias and of using reports to justify the Western-led strikes.

Responding to Iran’s criticism, Grossi defended the agency’s impartiality. “Who can believe this conflict happened because of an IAEA report?” he said. “And by the way, what was in that report was not new.”

Iran Denies Weaponization Intentions

The comments come on the heels of a 12-day escalation between Israel and Iran, during which U.S. and Israeli forces struck several nuclear-related targets.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the strikes “completely obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program and warned of additional military action if Iran moves closer to developing nuclear weapons. However, various reports in U.S. media have suggested the damage may have been less severe than claimed.

Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons and maintains that its program is strictly for peaceful, civilian purposes, including electricity generation and medical use.