Iran no longer has a viable route to produce weapons-grade uranium (WGU), a conclusion reached by some of the world’s leading nuclear experts in a report published Monday. According to assessments from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s main nuclear enrichment sites were left in ruins, marking the first time in 15 years that Iran was unable to produce WGU.
The report, compiled by the Institute for Science and International Security, states that Iran has "no identifiable route to produce weapon-grade uranium in its centrifuge plant." This development marks a significant victory in the ongoing global efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Despite the success of the strikes, some experts remain cautious, questioning how far Tehran’s program had been set back.
The operation also caused “immense destruction” to Iran’s nuclear weapon production capabilities, according to the report. For the first time in over 15 years, the IAEA's assessments did not include a breakout estimate to WGU—highlighting the difficulty in speculating about the operability of centrifuges that weren’t destroyed, as well as the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium.
Public assessments from global agencies and governments agree that the strikes dealt significant damage to Iran’s nuclear sites, with estimates suggesting it could take years for the nation to recover. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly reaffirmed the success of the operation, stating, “Iran’s nuclear capabilities were totally obliterated by Operation Midnight Hammer. The entire world is safer because of President Trump’s decisive action and the U.S. military’s flawless execution.”
Led by renowned nuclear weapons expert David Albright, the study did acknowledge that Iran’s refusal to cooperate with IAEA inspectors has led to a lack of recent data from its nuclear sites. However, the report found no indication that enriched uranium stockpiles had been moved outside of Iran’s three main facilities—Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. Furthermore, it was confirmed that almost all of Iran’s 22,000 operating gas centrifuges were either rendered inoperable or destroyed.
This groundbreaking report shows that the U.S. and its allies have dealt a severe blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, reaffirming the effectiveness of Operation Midnight Hammer and underscoring the importance of continued vigilance in the face of Iran’s dangerous nuclear aspirations. The world is undoubtedly safer today, thanks to President Trump’s decisive leadership.
