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Does the Trump Administration Understand How ‘Enriched’ Uranium Is Made Into Weapons?
Experts say negotiators mistook stockpile form and enrichment levels, even as the IAEA estimated Iran held 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%.
- Less than two days after negotiations failed, the administration and Israel attacked Iran. Experts suggest the military decision was informed by a shallow understanding of Iran's nuclear program and positions.
- Negotiators Steve Witkoff, a former real estate developer, and Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, allegedly struggled with technical details. President Trump repeatedly used the non-industry term "nuclear dust," raising doubts about negotiators' expertise.
- Witkoff reportedly expressed concern over a Tehran research reactor storing 20% enriched uranium. Kelsey Davenport, director for Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association, noted the 45 kilograms of material there is "not even enough for one bomb."
- Iran's hardliners are calling for full nuclear armament following the strikes. Trump has since demanded Iran surrender its enriched uranium, citing the stores as rationale for the ongoing war.
- Despite inflicted damage, experts warn strikes cannot destroy Iran's nuclear knowledge or political will. Analysts argue Iran now has greater incentive to accelerate its nuclear program, potentially making diplomacy more difficult.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Does the Trump administration understand how ‘enriched’ uranium is made into weapons?
For the US to reach a deal or end its war with Iran, President Trump has said he wants the country to surrender its “enriched” uranium. But as CNN explores in “Word of the Week,” nuclear arms experts say they have doubts about how well he and his lead negotiator understand the technicalities.
Trump sends shock signal with shift in stance on Iran uranium: ‘Don’t care about that'
President Donald Trump sent another conflicting signal on the status of the Iran war on Wednesday, saying he does not care anymore about Iran's possession of enriched uranium — a key reason he previously stated for launching the military operation in the Middle East. Trump was just hours away from a...
Trump says he doesn't "care about" enriched nuclear material in Iran
In a phone interview with Reuters, President Trump said he doesn’t “care about” the enriched nuclear material in Iran, insisting the U.S. can monitor the situation from a distance. Asked about Iran’s enriched uranium it still has, Mr. Trump said, “That’s so far underground, I don’t care about that.” “We’ll always be watching it by satellite,” he added. Iran’s enriched uranium, hidden in deep underground tunnels, would likely require further enri…
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