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Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Opinion: Iran's 'missing' uranium and the plan to hide it
More than five days after President Donald Trump ordered unprecedented US strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, Americans are just now starting to receive the first sober analysis of the attacks. Though the assessments are not coming from the US government and, especially, not from the mainstream American media. Over the past few days, many in the press have been chasing their tails over a classified Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, which was disgracefully leaked by someone inside the Pentagon , Congress , or the US intel community. Such a preliminary report, probably based primarily on satellite imagery and geospatial analysis, is considered a 'low confidence' assessment, for no one can determine with any high degree of certainty the status of a clandestine nuclear facility buried deep underground from images taken from outer space. Indeed, the IAEC is an Israeli government authority, but the IAEC has every incentive to understate, not overstate, the impact of the US strikes on the underground uranium enrichment plant at Fordow – the crown jewel of the Iranian nuclear program. Their findings are supported by other Israeli intelligence agencies. Surely, the Israelis would be the first to advocate for additional strikes against Iranian nuclear targets if they believed a threat still existed. Logically, if they exaggerated the damage caused by the US attacks that would undermine their predicate for attacking Iran in the future to destroy any additional capabilities or nuclear weapons scientists. But according to the IAEC, the job is done. 'The devastating US strike on Fordow destroyed the site's critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable,' read an IAEC statement released Wednesday. 'We assess that the American strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran's military nuclear program, has set back Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years.' That Israeli assessment, however, comes with a caveat. The IAEC noted that the devastation of the Iranian nuke program can 'continue indefinitely' if Iran 'does not get access to nuclear material.' If Tehran was stashing enriched uranium outside of the facilities at Fordow or Natanz, which were both hit by American GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker buster bombs , then they may have the ability to reconstitute their program, which brings us to the latest nuclear red herring. Some in the media are raising alarm over publicly available satellite imagery that shows a line of cargo trucks parked outside Fordow in the days before the US strikes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was pressed on this during a Pentagon news conference on Thursday. 'We're looking at all aspects of intelligence and making sure we have a sense of what was where,' he said. I'm certain that both the US and Israeli intel have been looking into this. But I have serious doubts that the Iranians would have moved nuclear material out of Fordow in the days before the strike. It's possible but it is far more likely that they were moving enrichment uranium or centrifuge parts into the heavily fortified mountain fortress. The Iranians, fearing additional Israeli attacks, would most likely have transferred any valuable materials into Fordow, knowing that the Israelis lacked the bombs capable of penetrating the rock shield around the facility and doubting that Trump would order a strike. Additionally, Tehran is well aware that Israel and the US have intelligence dominance over their entire country and would be closely monitoring the comings and goings at Fordow. Would the Iranians really have risked loading enrichment uranium into trucks only for them to be tracked and destroyed by their enemies? The idea strains credulity. Finally, it would be a massive, unimaginable intelligence failure by Israel and the US, after demonstrating extraordinary and exquisite operational skills, to simply forget to monitor a line of cargo trucks leaving Fordow. With that said, the Iranians were likely storing at least some enriched material in locations not destroyed in recent strikes. The third Iranian nuclear facility targeted in the US attack was the Isfahan site, which was hit by Tomahawk missiles, likely leaving deep tunnels intact. If material was kept there, it may still be there. That is why it is now critically important for the US to demand that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei agree to full, transparent and verifiable nuclear disarmament as part of any ceasefire agreement. And no deal would be worth the paper that it is printed on without the threat of American and Israeli military might to enforce it. There's got to be a clear signal from President Trump that any indication that the Iranians are moving materials or rebuilding or hiding weaponization activities will result in an overwhelming US response. And if the US is not prepared to strike again, they need to give the Israelis the green light act and threaten the regime that any retaliation against Israel carries the risk of a US military response.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Post Record Highs on Hopes of Trade Deals
The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.33%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.54%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.33%. September E-mini S&P futures (ESU25) are up +0.27%, and September E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQU25) are up +0.32%. Stock indexes today are extending this week's rally, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting new all-time highs, and the Dow Jones Industrials posting a 3-3/4 month high. Positive trade news is buoying stocks today as the US moves closer to trade deals with China and other trading partners. Stocks remained higher despite the weaker-than-expected US May personal spending and income reports, as well as the stronger-than-expected May core PCE price index. US Commerce Secretary Lutnick said that the US and China had finalized a trade understanding reached last month in Geneva, including a commitment from China to deliver rare earth materials. China's Commerce Ministry also confirmed the agreement and stated that it will review and approve eligible applications for the export of controlled items, and the US will cancel the restrictive measures taken against China. In addition, Commerce Secretary Lutnick said the White House has imminent plans to reach agreements with a set of 10 major trading partners ahead of a July 9 deadline for reciprocal tariffs. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department announced a deal with G-7 countries that will exclude US companies from some taxes imposed by other countries in exchange for removing the "revenge tax" proposal from President Trump's tax bill. US May personal spending unexpectedly fell -0.1% m/m, weaker than expectations of a +0.1% m/m increase. May personal income unexpectedly fell -0.5% m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.3% m/m and the biggest decline in more than 3-1/2 years. The US May core PCE price index, the Fed's preferred gauge of underlying inflation, rose +0.2% m/m and +2.7% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.1% m/m and +2.6% y/y. Minneapolis Fed President Kashkari said he sees two 25-bp Fed rate cuts this year, with the first potentially in September, but warned that tariffs could have a delayed impact on inflation, and policymakers should remain flexible. The markets this week will watch to see if the ceasefire holds between Israel and Iran. Also, any new tariff news or trade deals will be scrutinized. Later today brings the June University of Michigan US consumer sentiment index, expected unchanged at 60.5. Federal funds futures prices are discounting the chances at 21% for a -25 bp rate cut at the July 29-30 FOMC meeting. Overseas stock markets today are mixed. The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +1.09%. China's Shanghai Composite closed down -0.70%. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 climbed to a 5-month high and closed up +1.43%. Interest Rates September 10-year T-notes (ZNU25) today are down by -5 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is up +4.3 bp to 4.285%. T-note prices are slightly lower today on some negative carryover from weakness in European government bonds. Also, positive trade news today has pushed stocks higher and reduced safe-haven demand for T-notes. In addition, the stronger-than-expected May core PCE price index, the Fed's preferred gauge of underlying inflation, is negative for T-notes. Losses in T-notes are limited due to the unexpected declines in the US May personal spending and income reports, dovish factors for Fed policy. Also, dovish comments today from Minneapolis Fed President Kashkari were supportive of T-notes when he said he sees two 25-bp Fed rate cuts this year. European government bond yields today are moving higher. The 10-year German bund yield rose to a 1-month high of 2.606% and is up +3.6 bp to 2.604%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is up +3.3 bp to 4.505%. The Eurozone Jun economic confidence survey unexpectedly fell -0.8 to 94.0, weaker than expectations of unchanged at 94.8. Swaps are discounting the chances at 7% for a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at the July 24 policy meeting. US Stock Movers Nike (NKE) is up more than +14% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrials after reporting Q4 revenue of $11.10 billion, better than the consensus of $10.72 billion, and saying it is taking steps to mitigate tariffs, including "surgical" price increases and reducing production in China. Trade Desk (TTD) is up more than +3% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after Evercore ISI upgraded the stock to outperform from in line with a price target of $90. Apogee Enterprises (APOG) is up more than +16% after raising guidance on its 2026 adjusted EPS forecast to $3.80-$4.20 from a previous forecast of $3.55-$4.10. Estee Lauder (EL) is up more than +4% after HSBC upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $99. (AMZN) is up more than +1% after BNP Paribas Exane upgraded the stock to outperform from neutral with a price target of $254. Boeing (BA) is up more than +1% after Redburn upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $275. Gold mining stocks are under pressure today, with the price of COMEX gold falling to a 4-week low. As a result, Gold Fields Ltd (GFI) and Anglogold Ashanti Plc (AU) are down more than -5%, and Newmont (NEM) is down more than -3% to lead losers in the S&P 500. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is down -0.45% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials after Baird downgraded the stock to underperform from neutral with a price target of $235. CorMedix (CRMD) is down more than -13% after announcing it intends to offer and sell $85 million of shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering. Uber Technologies (UBER) is down more than -2% after Canaccord Genuity downgraded the stock to hold from buy. Crowdstrike Holdings (CRWD) is down more than -1% on signs of insider selling after an SEC filing showed the company's CEO, President, CFO, and CAO sold a combined $19.9 million of shares on Monday. Earnings Reports (6/27/2025) Apogee Enterprises Inc. (APOG) and Immersion Corp (IMMR). On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
NDTV
11 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"It's In Your DNA": Pentagon Chief Blasts Reporter On Trump Question
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a blistering attack on the media, accusing journalists of rooting against President Donald Trump and deliberately undermining the success of America's recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. "It's like in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump because you want him not to be successful so bad," Pete Hegseth said during a tense Pentagon briefing alongside General Dan Caine. "You have to cheer against the efficacy of these strikes. You have to hope maybe they weren't effective." View this post on Instagram A post shared by C-SPAN (@cspan) The remarks came in response to media reports earlier this week citing a leaked Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment. The preliminary report suggested that the strikes, while damaging, may have only set back Iran's nuclear programme by several months, a finding that stands in contrast to Trump's claim that the sites had been "obliterated." The administration did not dispute the existence of the DIA report but said that it was based on early data and described it as a "low confidence" assessment. Still, the leak led Hegseth to question the media's motives. "Maybe the way the Trump administration has represented them isn't true. So let's take half-truths, spun information, leaked information, and then spin it," he said. "Spin it in every way we can to try to cause doubt and manipulate the mind, the public mind, over whether or not our brave pilots were successful." Throughout the briefing, Pete Hegseth appeared visibly frustrated, repeatedly characterising the press as fixated on discrediting Trump-era military efforts. He criticised what he called "biased leaks to biased publications," suggesting that some reporters were more interested in scandal than substance. The defence secretary also accused the press of failing to recognise what he described as "historic moments," such as improved military recruiting numbers and increased NATO defence spending. "You're hunting for scandals all the time," he said. The Trump administration launched a forceful PR push to counter a leaked DIA report questioning the impact of US strikes on Iran. Thursday's Pentagon briefing was part of that effort, with President Trump urging viewers to "Watch it!" and claiming, without evidence, that reporters behind the leak would be fired. Pete Hegseth called it unverified and premature. "If you want to know what's going on at Fordow, you better go there and get a big shovel," Hegseth said, referring to one of the targeted Iranian nuclear sites. Asked whether Iran might have moved enriched uranium prior to the strikes, the defence secretary responded, "I'm not aware of any intelligence that I've reviewed that says things were not where they were supposed to be, moved or otherwise."
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
EU intel confirms CNN, NYT bombshell that Trump's obliteration of Iran's nuclear sites was fake
Iran uranium stockpile intact after U.S. strikes, say European officials — conflicting views deepen between Trump, CIA and Pentagon- Iran's uranium stockpile appears largely untouched following U.S. airstrikes on key nuclear sites, according to a European intelligence probe reported by the Financial Times . This finding could deepen tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and his own intelligence agencies, which are divided over how effective the strikes really were. What did EU intelligence confirm about Trump's Iran strike? European officials have now backed the internal U.S. intelligence leak — originally reported by CNN and the NYT — stating that the 2025 U.S. military strike on Iran's nuclear program only caused temporary setbacks, not the 'obliteration' President Trump announced. According to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment, the Iranian nuclear program was delayed by just a few months, not years. That report was leaked weeks ago, prompting a storm of controversy — now validated by EU sources. Was Iran's enriched uranium moved before the U.S. strikes? European officials, citing early intelligence, say Iran's 408 kilograms of uranium enriched near weapons-grade levels were not stored at the Fordow facility during the June 21 U.S. strikes. The uranium might have been moved beforehand, a move that could mean Iran's nuclear capability remains largely intact despite the heavy bombing campaign. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected this notion outright. 'We were watching closely and there was no indication to the United States that any of that enriched uranium was moved,' she said on Thursday. Live Events How does Trump view the outcome of the Iran nuclear strikes? President Trump has repeatedly claimed the strikes were a 'spectacular military success.' At the NATO Summit in the Netherlands on June 25, he even compared the impact to the atomic bombings of World War II. 'It's destroyed,' Trump said about Iran's nuclear program. Yet, not all in Washington agree with his assessment. CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that while the operation caused 'severe damage,' it may take years to rebuild some facilities. Still, he did not go as far as to fully back Trump's sweeping declaration. Why is Trump calling the reports fake? Trump and his senior advisers have slammed the DIA leak, branding it 'fake news' and accusing the intelligence community of undermining his national security legacy. Trump maintains that the strike completely wiped out Iran's nuclear capabilities, calling it the 'single most successful deterrent strike in modern history.' What does the Pentagon say about the nuclear facilities? A report by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), first cited by CNN , contradicted Trump's version. The assessment, based on 96 hours of intercepted communications and satellite imagery, found that key components of Iran's nuclear program, including centrifuges and uranium stockpiles, survived the attack. The DIA believes the U.S. operation set Iran's nuclear progress back by 6 to 12 months—not permanently. Some parts of the report are labeled "low confidence," prompting skepticism within the Trump administration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, however, claimed, 'Our bombing campaign obliterated Iran's ability to create nuclear weapons.' What did the strikes target and what's the damage? On June 21, the U.S. launched airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow: Located under a mountain near Qom, this site was hit with 14,000-kg bunker-busting bombs from stealth bombers. The entrance collapsed, and key infrastructure was damaged. But U.S. intelligence noted that the core facility was not entirely destroyed. Natanz: Another critical uranium enrichment site, reportedly struck hard, though full damage assessments are still pending. Isfahan: This location, which houses the main uranium conversion plant, was attacked by submarine-launched cruise missiles. Early reports suggest severe surface damage, but again, uncertainty remains over what lies beneath. Air Force General Dan Caine said assessments would take time, especially at deeply buried facilities like Fordow and Natanz. How did Iran and Israel respond to the U.S. strikes? Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the U.S. strike as exaggerated. 'They could not achieve anything significant,' he said during a video address following a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel that ended a 12-day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel backed Trump's narrative, with its Atomic Energy Commission stating the Fordow facility was made 'inoperable' by U.S. and Israeli strikes. The IAEC reported that the site's 'critical infrastructure' had been destroyed and claimed the attack was 'devastating.' Israel's military also said it bombed potential exit routes to prevent Iran from relocating any nuclear material before the strikes. Is Iran's nuclear threat truly delayed or just disrupted? Despite Trump's confidence, the disagreement among intelligence communities is stark. While European and Pentagon assessments stress that parts of Iran's nuclear capacity are still operational, Trump and Israeli officials argue otherwise. David Albright of the Institute for Science and International Security called the DIA's report 'hard to believe,' suggesting both Fordow and Natanz were likely destroyed or knocked out of operation. The institute also stated that Isfahan's tunnel entrances had collapsed, blocking access. Could the U.S. strike Iran again? Despite the conflicting reports, U.S. military officials have made it clear: 'All options remain on the table.' If Iran restarts full-scale uranium enrichment or retaliates militarily, the Biden-Trump administration is prepared to strike again. Here's what's being discussed: Contingency plans are active , including cyberwarfare and targeted precision bombings. Vice President JD Vance warned that any Iranian retaliation would be met with 'overwhelming force.' Trump hasn't ruled out diplomacy either — hinting at potential 'renewed talks' if Iran backs down. Still, the central question remains: did the U.S. strikes truly dismantle Iran's path to a nuclear weapon, or merely delay it? Only time—and clearer intelligence—will tell. FAQs: Q1: Is Iran's uranium stockpile still intact after the U.S. attack? Yes, European officials say most of Iran's enriched uranium is still intact after the strikes. Q2: Did Trump exaggerate the success of the Iran nuclear strikes? Trump called it a total success, but U.S. intelligence reports suggest only partial damage was done.
NDTV
16 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
US Strikes On Iran's Nuclear Sites Only Set Back Its Program By Months
Washington: A US intelligence report suggests that Iran's nuclear program has been set back only a few months after US strikes and was not "completely and fully obliterated" as President Donald Trump has said, according to two people familiar with the early assessment. The report issued by the Defense Intelligence Agency on Monday contradicts statements from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the status of Iran's nuclear facilities. According to the people, the report found that while the Sunday strikes at the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites did significant damage, the facilities were not totally destroyed. The people were not authorized to address the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House rejected the DIA assessment, calling it "flat-out wrong." On Wednesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said in a post on X that "New intelligence confirms" what Trump has stated: "Iran's nuclear facilities have been destroyed. If the Iranians chose to rebuild, they would have to rebuild all three facilities (Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan) entirely, which would likely take years to do." Gabbard's office declined to respond to questions about the details of the new intelligence, or whether it would be declassified and released publicly. The office of the director of national intelligence coordinates the work of the nation's 18 intelligence agencies, including the DIA, which is the intelligence arm of the Defense Department, responsible for producing intelligence on foreign militaries and the capabilities of adversaries. The DIA's assessment was preliminary and will be refined as new information becomes available, the agency wrote in a statement on Wednesday. Its authors also characterised it as "low confidence," an acknowledgement that the report's conclusions could be mistaken. According to the DIA statement, analysts have not been able to review the sites themselves. The DIA also said it is working with the FBI to investigate the unauthorised leak of the assessment. The U.S. has held out hope of restarting negotiations with Iran to convince it to give up its nuclear program entirely, but some experts fear that the U.S. strikes - and the potential of Iran retaining some of its capabilities - could push Tehran toward developing a functioning weapon. The assessment also suggests that at least some of Iran's highly enriched uranium, necessary for creating a nuclear weapon, was moved out of multiple sites before the U.S. strikes and survived, and it found that Iran's centrifuges, which are required to further enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels, are largely intact, according to the people. At the deeply buried Fordo uranium enrichment plant, where U.S. B-2 stealth bombers dropped several 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, the entrance collapsed and infrastructure was damaged, but the underground infrastructure was not destroyed, the assessment found. The people said that intelligence officials had warned of such an outcome in previous assessments ahead of the strike on Fordo. The White House pushes back Trump defended his characterisation of the strike's impact. "It was obliteration, and you'll see that," Trump told reporters while attending the NATO summit in the Netherlands. He said the intelligence was "very inconclusive" and described media outlets as "scum" for reporting on it. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was also at the NATO summit, said there would be an investigation into how the intelligence assessment leaked and dismissed it as "preliminary" and "low confidence." Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "These leakers are professional stabbers." The intelligence assessment was first reported by CNN on Tuesday. The Israel Atomic Energy Commission said its assessment was that the U.S. and Israeli strikes have "set back Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years." It did not give evidence to back up its claim. Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff, who said he has read damage assessment reports from U.S. intelligence and other nations, reiterated Tuesday that the strikes had deprived Iran of the ability to develop a weapon and called it outrageous that the U.S. assessment was shared with reporters. "It's treasonous so it ought to be investigated," Witkoff said on Fox News Channel. Trump has said in comments and posts on social media in recent days, including Tuesday, that the strike left the sites in Iran "totally destroyed" and that Iran will never rebuild its nuclear facilities. Netanyahu said Tuesday in a televised statement: "For dozens of years I promised you that Iran would not have nuclear weapons and indeed ... we brought to ruin Iran's nuclear program." He said the U.S. joining Israel was "historic" and thanked Trump. Outside experts had suspected Iran had likely already hidden the core components of its nuclear program as it stared down the possibility that American bunker-buster bombs could be used on its nuclear sites. Bulldozers and trucks visible in satellite imagery taken just days before the strikes have fuelled speculation among experts that Iran may have transferred its half-ton stockpile of enriched uranium to an unknown location. And the incomplete destruction of the nuclear sites could still leave the country with the capacity to spin up weapons-grade uranium and develop a bomb. Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful, but it has enriched significant quantities of uranium beyond the levels required for any civilian use. The U.S. and others assessed prior to the U.S. strikes that Iran's theocratic leadership had not yet ordered the country to pursue an operational nuclear weapon, but the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that Iran has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs should it choose to do so. Vice President JD Vance said in a Monday interview on Fox News Channel that even if Iran is still in control of its stockpile of 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) of enriched uranium, which is just short of weapons-grade, the U.S. has cut off Iran's ability to convert it to a nuclear weapon. "If they have 60% enriched uranium, but they don't have the ability to enrich it to 90%, and, further, they don't have the ability to convert that to a nuclear weapon, that is mission success. That is the obliteration of their nuclear program, which is why the president, I think, rightly is using that term," Vance said. Approximately 42 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium is theoretically enough to produce one atomic bomb if enriched further to 90%, according to the U.N. nuclear watchdog. What experts say Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi on June 13 - the day Israel launched its military campaign against Iran - that Tehran would "adopt special measures to protect our nuclear equipment and materials." American satellite imagery and analysis firm Maxar Technologies said its satellites photographed trucks and bulldozers at the Fordo site beginning on June 19, three days before the Americans struck. Subsequent imagery "revealed that the tunnel entrances into the underground complex had been sealed off with dirt prior to the U.S. airstrikes," said Stephen Wood, senior director at Maxar. "We believe that some of the trucks seen on 19 June were carrying dirt to be used as part of that operation." Some experts say those trucks could also have been used to move out Iran's enriched uranium stockpile. "It is plausible that Iran moved the material enriched to 60% out of Fordo and loaded it on a truck," said Eric Brewer, a former U.S. intelligence analyst and now deputy vice president at the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Iran could also have moved other equipment, including centrifuges, he said, noting that while enriched uranium, which is stored in fortified canisters, is relatively easy to transport, delicate centrifuges are more challenging to move without inflicting damage. Apart from its enriched uranium stockpile, over the past four years Iran has produced the centrifuges key to enrichment without oversight from the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Iran also announced on June 12 that it has built and will activate a third nuclear enrichment facility. IAEA chief Grossi said the facility was located in Isfahan, a place where Iran has several other nuclear sites. After being bombarded by both the Israelis and the Americans, it is unclear if, or how quickly, Isfahan's facilities, including tunnels, could become operational. But given all of the equipment and material likely still under Iran's control, this offers Tehran "a pretty solid foundation for a reconstituted covert program and for getting a bomb," Brewer said. Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy at the Arms Control Association, a nonpartisan policy center, said that "if Iran had already diverted its centrifuges," it can "build a covert enrichment facility with a small footprint and inject the 60% gas into those centrifuges and quickly enrich to weapons grade levels." But Brewer also underlined that if Iran launched a covert nuclear program, it would do so at a disadvantage, having lost to Israeli and American strikes vital equipment and personnel that are crucial for turning the enriched uranium into a functional nuclear weapon.
