Nearly 900 pounds of potentially enriched uranium have vanished in Iran, and the world’s nuclear watchdog is sounding the alarm. Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), revealed this unsettling gap in oversight, raising questions about Iran’s intentions. The timing, post-U.S. military strikes, smells like more than a coincidence.
Fox News reported that the U.S. launched precision strikes on Saturday, hammering three of Iran’s key nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—while Iranian officials claimed they moved the uranium to dodge the attacks.
Natanz took the hardest hit, with its centrifuge hall, a hub for uranium enrichment, left in ruins. Isfahan also suffered damage, though details remain murky since no inspectors have accessed the site.
Grossi, speaking on Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum” Tuesday, didn’t mince words about the missing material. “We do not have information on the whereabouts of this material,” he said. That’s diplomatic speak for: Iran’s playing hide-and-seek with dangerous stuff, and the IAEA’s not amused.
The strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and Vice President JD Vance called the mission a win if Iran can’t enrich uranium to weapons-grade 90%.
Grossi nodded along, noting, “60% is not 90%,” but stressed the urgency of finding the missing 900 pounds. If Iran’s stuck at 60% enrichment, that’s good news—unless they’ve stashed it for a rainy day.
Iranian officials told Grossi they moved the uranium as a “protective measure” before the strikes. Protective, sure, but from whom? This smells like a regime dodging accountability, not safeguarding global security.
Grossi once speculated the uranium might be at an ancient site near Isfahan, but now he’s got no leads. The IAEA’s job is to track every gram of uranium in Iran, and this lapse is a black eye for oversight. Iran’s obligation to report its nuclear material isn’t optional, yet here we are.
The Natanz strike crippled a key enrichment site, which could kneecap Iran’s nuclear program for now. But 900 pounds of uranium doesn’t just vanish into thin air. Someone’s either incompetent or calculating, and neither bodes well.
Grossi’s pushing for inspections to resume pronto. “The way to assert that is to allow the inspection activity to resume as soon as possible,” he urged. Iran’s stonewalling only fuels suspicions they’re up to no good.
Vance’s take—that Iran’s 60% uranium can’t yet make a bomb—offers some relief, but it’s cold comfort. If Iran’s hiding this stockpile, who’s to say they won’t find a way to juice it up later? The IAEA’s not in the business of trusting Tehran’s word.
Grossi’s mission isn’t just about Iran; he tracks uranium worldwide to keep the planet safe. “I should account for every gram of uranium that exists,” he said. That’s a tall order when Iran’s playing coy with nearly half a ton of the stuff.
The U.S. strikes were a bold move, no question. They sent a message: America won’t sit idly by while Iran inches toward a nuke. But if the uranium’s AWOL, the mission’s success feels incomplete.
Iran’s claim of “protective measures” sounds like a flimsy excuse to dodge scrutiny. If they’re so innocent, why not let IAEA inspectors in to verify? Transparency isn’t their strong suit, and that’s the problem.
Grossi’s not letting this slide, and neither should the world. “My job is to try to see where this material is,” he insisted, vowing to hold Iran accountable. Good luck getting straight answers from a regime that thrives on opacity.
The IAEA is in a tough spot, trying to enforce rules while Iran rewrites the playbook. The missing uranium could be a bargaining chip, a hidden threat, or just a logistical snafu—none of which inspires confidence. This isn’t about politics; it’s about preventing a catastrophe.
