Fact Check: IAEA lost track of 400kg of enriched uranium after Israeli attacks.

Fact Check: "IAEA lost track of 400kg of enriched uranium after Israeli attacks."

What We Know

The claim that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) lost track of 400kg of enriched uranium following Israeli airstrikes is rooted in recent events surrounding Iran's nuclear program. According to reports, Israeli airstrikes targeted key Iranian nuclear facilities, including the uranium-conversion facility at Isfahan, which is critical for Iran's uranium fuel cycle (source-2). The IAEA has indicated that these attacks have significantly impacted Iran's ability to produce new enriched uranium, although the exact status of the 400kg stockpile remains unclear.

Reports suggest that Iran may have moved this uranium stockpile, which is enriched to near-weapons-grade levels, to a secret location prior to the strikes. This stockpile is estimated to be sufficient for the production of up to ten nuclear weapons (source-4). The IAEA chief acknowledged that the last confirmed sighting of this material was about a week before the Israeli strikes, raising concerns about its current whereabouts (source-4).

Analysis

The claim that the IAEA lost track of 400kg of enriched uranium is partially true. While it is confirmed that the IAEA has not been able to verify the current status of this uranium stockpile, the circumstances surrounding its potential relocation are complex. The IAEA's inability to confirm the uranium's whereabouts can be attributed to the ongoing military actions and the resultant damage to monitoring capabilities (source-2).

The credibility of the sources discussing the movement of the uranium is mixed. Reports from the IAEA and independent experts provide a basis for understanding the situation, but there is also speculation involved regarding Iran's actions and intentions. For instance, while some experts believe that Iran may have successfully relocated the uranium, others caution that the evidence is not definitive (source-6). Additionally, the IAEA's role as a neutral body lends weight to its assessments, but the agency's limitations in verifying Iran's nuclear activities due to the strikes cannot be overlooked (source-3).

Conclusion

The verdict on the claim that the IAEA lost track of 400kg of enriched uranium after Israeli attacks is Partially True. While the IAEA has not confirmed the current status of the uranium stockpile, it is plausible that Iran may have moved it prior to the strikes, complicating the agency's ability to monitor the situation effectively. The ongoing military actions have hindered verification efforts, leading to uncertainty regarding the whereabouts of this significant quantity of enriched uranium.

Fact Check: IAEA lost track of 400kg of enriched uranium after Israeli attacks.