US Defense Secretary Says No Evidence Iran Hid Uranium Before Strikes
The US recently launched airstrikes against three Iranian nuclear sites, aiming to delay Iran’s nuclear program. Despite concerns, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday that there’s no evidence Iran moved its uranium stockpiles before the attacks.
“I haven’t seen any intelligence suggesting that Iran moved its enriched uranium to avoid our strikes,” Hegseth told reporters. His statement comes amid speculation that Iran might have relocated its near weapons-grade uranium from the heavily fortified Fordow facility.
Experts pointed out satellite images showing unusual activity at Fordow, including long lines of vehicles. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that most of their 60% enriched uranium had been moved to a secret location before the US strikes.
The Financial Times reported that Iran’s uranium stockpile remains mostly untouched because it wasn’t all stored at Fordow. However, Hegseth disputed these claims and criticized media outlets for downplaying the success of the strikes. He mentioned that CIA Director John Ratcliffe believes Iran’s nuclear program has been severely damaged and could take years to rebuild.
US senators were briefed on the situation and agreed that while the strikes damaged Iran’s facilities, it’s too early to know the full extent. Senator Tom Cotton noted that destroying or seizing all of Iran’s enriched uranium wasn’t part of the mission. Senator Mark Warner emphasized the need for inspectors on the ground to truly understand Iran’s capabilities.
