Washington: US Republican Rep. Bill Foster expressed concerns on Friday that recent American military actions against Iranian nuclear sites might not have neutralized Iran's potential to develop a nuclear weapon with the destructive capability of the Hiroshima bomb. Foster highlighted the risk associated with existing stockpiles of enriched uranium that could facilitate rapid weaponization.
According to Anadolu Agency, Foster, who has a background as a PhD physicist and 25 years of experience in a national research laboratory, voiced his concerns following a briefing with key officials from the Trump administration. Among those who briefed him were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Foster's main concern was the lack of detailed information regarding the whereabouts and quantity of high-enriched uranium, specifically the 60 percent enriched material, which, although not weapons-grade, remains usable for nuclear armament. He noted that the Hiroshima bomb utilized uranium enriched to 50 percent and above, emphasizing the urgency of securing or destroying such materials.
Foster criticized the perceived overconfidence in the effectiveness of the strikes, stressing the importance of maintaining vigilance over Iran's nuclear material. The aim of the military operations, as he stated, was to ensure control or destruction of Iran's nuclear capabilities, a goal he believes has not been fully realized.
The backdrop to these developments is a recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, sparked on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes targeting Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian sites. According to Iran's Health Ministry, these strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 606 people and injuries to 5,332 others. In response, Iran executed missile and drone attacks, killing at least 29 people and wounding over 3,400, as reported by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The US intervened by deploying six bunker-buster bombs on Iran's Fordo nuclear facility on June 22 and executing multiple submarine-based cruise missile assaults on sites in Natanz and Isfahan. The conflict was paused by a US-brokered ceasefire that commenced on June 24.