US defense chief denies reports Iran moved enriched uranium

Friday 27 June 2025 - 08:01

By: Zahouani Ilham

US defense chief denies reports Iran moved enriched uranium

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated there is no intelligence indicating that Iran relocated its stockpile of highly enriched uranium prior to recent US airstrikes. The comment comes amid continued speculation about the state of Iran’s nuclear program following a series of targeted US military strikes.

Last Sunday, US bombers dropped over a dozen 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites. The mission's outcome is under scrutiny, especially after President Donald Trump claimed the strikes had wiped out Iran's nuclear capabilities.

"I haven't seen any intelligence suggesting that materials were relocated or not where expected," Hegseth stated during a tense press briefing. Trump, present during the session, supported Hegseth's assertion, saying any effort to remove the material would have required too much time.

Trump added that vehicles spotted at the sites were likely those of construction workers attempting to reinforce the facilities, rather than personnel moving sensitive materials. However, several analysts have pointed to satellite imagery showing increased vehicle activity around the Fordow nuclear site in the days leading up to the attack. According to a senior Iranian source, most of Iran’s 60% enriched uranium was transferred to an undisclosed location before the airstrikes.

A recent European intelligence report claimed that Iran’s uranium stockpile remains mostly intact, suggesting it was not stored at Fordow. Responding to this, Hegseth rejected the notion, labeling the leaked assessments from the Defense Intelligence Agency as preliminary and of low confidence. He emphasized that updated intelligence, including input from CIA Director John Ratcliffe, indicated significant long-term damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Later on Thursday, Hegseth, Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and General Dan Caine briefed US senators. Lawmakers from both parties acknowledged the damage but agreed more time is needed to assess its full extent. Senator Tom Cotton clarified that the mission had not aimed to seize or eliminate all enriched uranium, yet he deemed the operation “extraordinary.”

Senator Mark Warner added that only direct inspections could determine the full scope of Iran’s nuclear capacity. He noted that it was unrealistic to expect bunker-buster bombs to neutralize all of Iran’s enriched uranium.

Tulsi Gabbard, normally responsible for intelligence briefings, was absent. Trump had previously dismissed her claim that there was no evidence of Iran pursuing nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are preparing to vote on a resolution requiring Congressional approval for future strikes on Iran—a measure unlikely to pass.

At the Pentagon briefing, Hegseth described the mission as "historically successful." This statement followed a declaration from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who claimed a symbolic victory and warned of retaliation against American bases if further attacks occur.

During the press conference, Hegseth criticized what he described as media bias, accusing journalists of undermining the military’s success due to political animosity toward Trump. Trump applauded the event as one of the most effective press conferences he had witnessed, and Hegseth later thanked him publicly.

General Dan Caine focused on the technical aspects of the mission, presenting footage of bomb tests on structures similar to those targeted. Caine refrained from offering a personal evaluation of the mission's impact and emphasized that he had never faced political pressure regarding his analysis. He insisted that military leadership remains independent and apolitical.