As a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds under U.S. mediation, troubling new reports suggest that Tehran may have moved 400 kilograms of enriched uranium—enough to create 9 to 10 nuclear bombs—to a secret location prior to the U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
US Markets Surge as Israel-Iran War De-escalates Following Ceasefire Announcement
Satellite Images Reveal Suspicious Activity Before the Strikes
According to satellite imagery, 16 trucks were seen lining up at the entrance of the Fordow nuclear site before the U.S. airstrikes. The uranium, enriched to 60%, was allegedly stored in specialized barrels small enough to fit into the trunks of 10 standard cars—making it feasible for a quick and covert relocation.
IAEA and US Officials Confirm the Missing Uranium
US Vice President JD Vance Acknowledges the Disappearance
In an interview with ABC, U.S. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the uranium was missing and said it will be a key bargaining chip in future negotiations with Iran:
“We are going to work in the coming weeks to ensure that we do something with that fuel… that’s one of the things we’re going to have conversations with the Iranians about.”
While Vance admitted that the uranium was near-weapons-grade, he also emphasized that Iran no longer has the infrastructure to convert it into actual weapons, due to the extensive damage from U.S. airstrikes.
IAEA Chief Grossi: Iran Has Protected the Material
IAEA Chief Rafael Mariano Grossi confirmed to CNN that Iran had “made no secret” of protecting some of its nuclear materials. In a later text to The New York Times, Grossi clarified that he was referring to the same 400 kg uranium cache last inspected a week before Israel’s strikes.
US Strikes Cause Significant Damage to Iranian Nuclear Infrastructure
Photos from Maxar Technologies show substantial destruction at the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities. Key structures appear to have been obliterated by the 30,000-pound bombs deployed by U.S. stealth bombers. President Donald Trump has hailed the mission as a decisive blow:
“We completely obliterated Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.”
Is the Uranium Move a Strategic Play by Tehran?
Experts believe the timing of the uranium’s disappearance could signal Iran’s preparation for future leverage in upcoming peace talks. The uranium, while not yet weapons-grade, could be quickly enriched to 90%, making the move highly strategic if confirmed.
Conclusion: High-Stakes Game Continues Amid Fragile Ceasefire
If Iran successfully moved 400 kg of uranium ahead of U.S. airstrikes, it raises serious concerns for global security and the integrity of the nuclear non-proliferation efforts. While the immediate threat may have been disrupted by the bombing of key facilities, the missing stockpile introduces a new layer of tension as world powers prepare for delicate negotiations. The coming days will be critical in determining how Iran chooses to leverage this material—and how the international community responds.