President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a proposal that would permit Iran to restart uranium enrichment after ten years. The US president has given various reasons for potential conflict with Iran, emphasizing the prevention of Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons as a key objective.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran currently possesses 440.9kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity, nearing the 90% threshold for weapons-grade uranium. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has warned that this stockpile could potentially enable Iran to develop up to 10 nuclear bombs if weaponization occurs.
A new plan under review by Trump suggests Iran would halt uranium enrichment temporarily before gradually resuming low-enriched uranium production for the next ten years. Trump had initially pushed for a 20-year suspension to avoid similarities with the 2015 nuclear agreement initiated by former President Barack Obama, which restricted Iran’s uranium enrichment for 15 years.
While Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, the IAEA and Western nations assert that Iran had a previous organized nuclear weapons program until 2003. Inspections of Iran’s near weapons-grade uranium have been impeded since June 2025, following strategic strikes that weakened Iran’s defenses and nuclear facilities, making the exact location of the uranium uncertain.
IAEA reports suggest a significant amount of highly enriched uranium is stored in tunnels at Iran’s nuclear complex near Isfahan, with additional quantities possibly held at the Natanz and Fordo facilities. Experts note the challenge the US would face in verifying and removing Iran’s enriched uranium due to the dispersed storage locations and the robust nature of the uranium containers.
The highly enriched uranium in Iran’s possession is stored in canisters weighing approximately 50 kg each, containing uranium hexafluoride gas. David Albright, a former nuclear weapons inspector, highlighted the secure design of the canisters but warned of potential safety risks if damaged, such as moisture intrusion from airstrikes.
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