Where Is Iran's Enriched Uranium? Mystery Over Missing 500 Kg Stockpile Raises Global Alarm

Washington: US intelligence sources have reported that Iran has taken aggressive steps in recent weeks to completely seal off its vast stockpile of bomb-grade uranium. Iran has deliberately destroyed the underground tunnels that housed this uranium and laid landmines at their entrances.

What did the US say?

Iran's move comes amid growing speculation that US President Donald Trump might order the US military to seize the uranium. This military blockade has now placed the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran at a critical juncture.

Trump's threat and Iran's retaliation?

Tensions between the two countries have been high for the past few months. President Donald Trump has publicly hinted that the US military could attack Iran's nuclear facilities and seize this uranium stockpile. The US 's primary objective is to seize this material to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

The region has been locked in a war-like situation since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz , reopening which is a top priority for the Trump administration. However, Trump's public rhetoric has alarmed Iran.

Experts believe that President Trump's open talk of a possible military attack inspired Iran to bury its most valuable nuclear asset deeper underground and secure it.

What are the new difficulties?

Iran's new fortifications risk undermining the Trump administration's proposed deal, which would have required Tehran to hand over all of its enriched uranium to the United States. According to the American plan, more than half a ton (500 kilograms) of bomb-grade uranium was to be destroyed at Iranian facilities, and the remains were then to be transported out of the country.

A senior administrative official had said that both the countries had come very close to this deal, but now due to the demolition of these tunnels and laying of landmines there, this task has become almost impossible and deadly.

Experts said that even if a written agreement is reached between the two countries, the biggest question remains as to who and how will do the risky task of safely removing this dangerous material from under the ground.

Iran may get a chance to manipulate

Nuclear experts believe Iran's actions could be a deliberate diplomatic move. According to Scott Roecker, a former National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) official, if international negotiators demand Iran bring its entire uranium stockpile to a central location for inspection and destruction, Iran will be solely responsible.

Under the pretext of the tunnels being blocked, Iran could use the excuse that some of the uranium is now completely unavailable and impossible to extract. In such a situation, the US or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would never be able to be completely sure whether Iran has actually handed over all of its uranium or is simply storing some of it for future use.

Where is the uranium hidden and what was the plan of the US Army?

International intelligence agencies believe that most of Iran's highly enriched uranium is buried in underground tunnels at the Isfahan nuclear complex in central Iran, while some is located at other secret locations. As early as mid-May, the US military was poised to launch a major military operation to forcibly seize this nuclear material.