On September 11, 2025, the Iranian government made a striking declaration: all of its enriched nuclear material, previously believed by some to have been relocated before a devastating airstrike, remains buried under the rubble of its bombed nuclear facilities. This announcement, delivered by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a televised interview, directly challenges recent assessments by international media and watchdog agencies. According to Reuters, Araghchi stated, "All our nuclear material is under the wreckage of the bombed facility," adding that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) is currently evaluating both the status and accessibility of these materials.
This revelation comes in the wake of a series of airstrikes in June 2025, when the United States, with reported support from Israel, targeted key Iranian nuclear sites. Prior to these attacks, Iran was known to possess approximately 408 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity—a level that, while still below weapons-grade, could be further refined to the 90% threshold required for nuclear arms within a matter of weeks. As The New York Times and AP noted, international observers from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other organizations had speculated that Iran might have moved this stockpile to a safe location ahead of the strikes, suggesting the damage would be limited. Araghchi’s statement, however, pushes back on that narrative, insisting that the nuclear material was not removed and remains trapped beneath the destroyed facilities.
The situation has drawn renewed attention to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the landmark agreement designed to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanction relief. The recent airstrikes and subsequent Iranian response have reignited tensions among the original signatories, particularly the European trio of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. These nations, often referred to as the E3, have threatened to reinstate sanctions that were lifted under the JCPOA unless Iran demonstrates transparency and full compliance with international nuclear agreements.
In response to mounting international pressure, Iran has taken a nuanced approach. On September 10, 2025, Iranian authorities announced that there is no undeclared nuclear material in the country and denied any violations of their obligations. The government further stated that all nuclear activities remain peaceful in nature. According to AFP, Araghchi emphasized, "Our nuclear material is peaceful and all irregularities are resolved." The Iranian Foreign Ministry also highlighted ongoing cooperation with the IAEA, asserting that any detected irregularities had been communicated to the agency and that the situation was under review.
Despite these assurances, Iran initially barred IAEA inspectors from visiting the bombed nuclear sites in the immediate aftermath of the airstrikes. This move raised alarms among international observers and fueled speculation about the true status of Iran's nuclear stockpile. However, after diplomatic engagement and under pressure from the E3 to restore sanctions, Iran reached a limited agreement with the IAEA. As of September 10, Iran has permitted IAEA inspections at nuclear facilities that were not targeted in the recent strikes. Access to the bombed sites, however, remains off-limits pending further evaluation by Iranian authorities.
Minister Araghchi clarified the conditions for future inspections, stating that IAEA access to any nuclear site in Iran now requires approval from the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). According to AP, he explained, "The SNSC will review access to undamaged facilities on a case-by-case basis." Regarding the bombed sites, Araghchi stressed that the situation is more complicated and that no actions will be taken until Iran has addressed environmental and safety concerns. He asserted, "We will not take any action at these locations until all necessary measures regarding environmental and safety concerns have been implemented."
The ongoing standoff has left the IAEA in a delicate position. The agency has not found evidence of undeclared nuclear material in Iran, but it continues to monitor the situation closely. The IAEA’s mandate is to verify that all nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, and its inspectors play a critical role in upholding international trust. As reported by AP and The New York Times, the agency remains vigilant, continuing its verification efforts while acknowledging the constraints imposed by the current Iranian policy.
Satellite imagery released by private company Maxar Technologies on June 22, 2025, provided a stark visual of the aftermath at the Fordow nuclear facility, one of the sites believed to have been struck by American bunker-buster bombs. The photos, published by Reuters, show six large craters and significant debris, underscoring the scale of the destruction and complicating any efforts to recover or inspect the nuclear material that may lie beneath.
The technical details matter here. Uranium enriched to 60% is not, by itself, weapons-grade, but it represents a significant step toward that capability. Experts warn that with sufficient material and technical expertise, Iran could, in theory, further enrich this stockpile to weapons-grade levels in a relatively short time. This potential is at the heart of international concerns and the rationale behind the JCPOA’s strict limits and monitoring requirements.
Iran’s insistence that all nuclear material remains under peaceful use and that no undeclared stockpiles exist has done little to assuage the fears of its critics. The United States, for its part, continues to monitor the situation closely, relying on intelligence and satellite data to track any changes in Iran’s nuclear posture. European governments, meanwhile, are caught between enforcing the terms of the JCPOA and avoiding further escalation in a region already fraught with tension.
For many Iranians, the nuclear issue is as much about national pride and sovereignty as it is about energy or security. The government’s refusal to allow unrestricted access to bombed sites, at least for now, is framed domestically as a matter of protecting national interests in the face of foreign aggression. Internationally, however, this stance risks deepening suspicions and potentially triggering a new round of sanctions that could further isolate Iran from the global community.
As of mid-September 2025, the situation remains fluid. Iran has signaled a willingness to resume cooperation with the IAEA and resolve outstanding JCPOA-related issues, but only on its own terms. The E3 and the broader international community are watching closely, weighing diplomatic options and considering the potential consequences of renewed sanctions or further military action.
In the end, the fate of Iran’s nuclear program—and the broader stability of the region—will likely hinge on a delicate balance of transparency, diplomacy, and trust. For now, the world waits, watching for signs of progress or peril beneath the rubble of Iran’s bombed nuclear facilities.
