IAEA says cannot verify Iran enriched uranium stockpile

The United Nations nuclear watchdog has warned that its inability to access and verify Iran’s nuclear material for nearly a year poses a significant proliferation concern. In a confidential report circulated to member states on Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency stated it has lost continuity of knowledge regarding Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium since military strikes targeted nuclear facilities in June of last year.

The agency’s report, to be discussed at a Board of Governors meeting next week, indicates that inspectors have been unable to return to key nuclear sites bombed by the United States and Israel. While satellite imagery has shown no recent activity at locations like Isfahan and Natanz, the IAEA has not had physical access to verify the status of nuclear material. The only facility inspected since February was the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which operates with Russian assistance for civilian energy purposes.

A central issue is the fate of Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent purity, a level close to the 90 percent considered weapons-grade. Prior to the June 2025 strikes, the IAEA estimated Iran possessed approximately 440...