Iran may be able to access its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium if it decides to retrieve the material believed to be stored at sites that were bombed by the United States, according to Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Satellite imagery suggests that most of the material remains buried at its last known location near the Iranian city of Isfahan. However, IAEA inspectors have not visited the sites in ten months, raising concerns about the status of the nuclear material.
In a related development, Iran has reportedly proposed an interim deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for Washington ending its blockade of Iranian ports. This move would postpone more complex negotiations over the country's nuclear program.
The IAEA continues to monitor the situation closely, as the potential retrieval of the uranium stockpile could have significant implications for regional and global security.