Iran’s inventory of highly enriched uranium is buried under rubble following US and Israeli strikes on the country's nuclear facilities in June, Iranian foreign minister said on Thursday.
“Our enriched uranium is buried under the rubble of bombed nuclear facilities,” Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told state TV on Thursday.
It appeared to be the first official assertion that Iran's stockpile remained in place after the attack. Their whereabouts and UN inspectors' access to them had been an issue of pointed concern among Western powers.
He warned that if Germany, France and Britain move to activate the snapback mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions, "they will be excluded from nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic."
“If the snapback mechanism is activated against Iran, the Supreme National Security Council will decide on the response,” he added, without elaborating.
Araghchi’s comments come after the UN nuclear watchdog warned last week that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium is “a matter of serious concern,” saying the agency has no visibility country’s activities since the June strikes on its nuclear facilities.
In a confidential report leaked to reporters on last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran's stock of near-weapons grade uranium increased almost eight percent before Israel attacked its nuclear facilities on June 13.
The report shows Iran had 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%, marking a 7.9% increase since the UN nuclear watchdog’s previous report in May.
"During this reporting period, the Agency lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the current inventories of nuclear material in Iran ... which urgently needs to be addressed," the report said.
Reuters reported in June that most of the enriched uranium at Iran’s Fordow facility appeared to have been moved days before the attacks.
The Financial Times also reported that preliminary intelligence assessments shared with European capitals also indicated the stockpile was relocated ahead of the US strikes.
Experts have pointed to satellite imagery showing truck convoys outside Fordow.
President Donald Trump dismissed the reports in a June interview with Fox News, saying the "(the Iranians) didn’t move anything.”
