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U.S. Intelligence: Iran Can Produce Nuclear Weapon in 3-6 Months
U.S. intelligence assessments show the time Iran needs to build a nuclear weapon remains the same as last summer's estimates, despite two months of war. Analysts had pushed the timeline to up to a year after prior attacks. The war, launched partly to halt Iran's nuclear program, has focused on conventional targets while Israel struck some nuclear sites.
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Al-MonitorAudio version
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U.S. -Israeli attack had pushed back the timeline to up to a year, according to three sources familiar with the matter. U.S.
President Donald Trump launched in part to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. U.S. and Israeli attacks began on February 28 and have focused on conventional military targets, but Israel has hit a number of significant nuclear facilities.
U.S. and Iran agreed to a truce on April 7 to pursue peace. Iran has choked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, blocking some 20% of world oil supplies. U.S.
Aims to ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon via ongoing negotiations with Tehran. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded prior to June's 12-day war that Iran likely could produce enough bomb-grade uranium for a weapon and build a bomb in around three to six months, according to two sources.
U.S. hit the Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan nuclear complexes. U.S. intelligence estimates pushed Iran's nuclear weapon timeline back to about nine months to a year.
The June attacks destroyed or badly damaged the three enrichment plants known to have been operating at the time, according to two sources and a person familiar with the assessments. N. nuclear watchdog has been unable to verify the whereabouts of some 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%.
N. nuclear watchdog believes that about half of the 440 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium was stored in an underground tunnel complex at the Isfahan Nuclear Research Center. Inspections of the Isfahan Nuclear Research Center have been suspended.
The International Atomic Energy Agency assesses that the total HEU stockpile would be enough for 10 bombs if further enriched. White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales stated that Operation Midnight Hammer obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities and Operation Epic Fury decimated Iran’s defense industrial base.
