Iran's Nuclear Materials Trapped Underground After Strikes

More than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium sits buried in underground tunnels. The problem? Nobody can reach it.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's latest report, circulated Friday, reveals an unprecedented nuclear standoff. Iran has stored most of its uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity—just steps away from weapons-grade material—in underground tunnels at its Isfahan facility. But eight months after Israeli and US strikes, those tunnels remain effectively sealed.

The Paradox of Inaccessible Nuclear Material

Satellite imagery shows "regular vehicular activity" around the tunnel entrances, but IAEA inspectors can't get inside. Neither, apparently, can the Iranians themselves. Al Jazeera'sAli Hashem reported that "even the Iranians aren't able to get into those facilities," despite visible work around the sites.

This creates an extraordinary situation: 972 pounds of near-weapons-grade uranium sitting in limbo, monitored by satellites but accessible to no one. The material was last seen by IAEA inspectors on June 10, 2025, just before Israel launched strikes that escalated into a 12-day war with US participation.

Tehran suspended IAEA cooperation after the bombings, accusing the UN watchdog of bias for failing to condemn the strikes. The result? A nuclear monitoring black hole at one of the world's most sensitive facilities.

Diplomatic Deadlock Deepens

Thursday's third round of Oman-mediated indirect talks between Washington and Tehran in Geneva yielded no breakthrough. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized US "excessive demands"—reportedly including complete dismantlement of nuclear infrastructure, ballistic missile limitations, and ending support for regional allies.

From Iran's perspective, these demands amount to total capitulation. The nuclear program represents Tehran's primary leverage in negotiations, built over decades despite crippling sanctions. Washington's position seems contradictory: claiming to have "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program while simultaneously demanding its complete dismantlement.

The IAEA report adds another layer of uncertainty. Inspectors don't know the precise location or operational status of a fourth uranium enrichment facility Iran was constructing at Isfahan before the war. This facility could contain nuclear material, but nobody knows for sure.

The Unintended Consequences of Military Action

The current impasse illustrates the limitations of military solutions to nuclear proliferation. The strikes may have damaged facilities, but they've also created a monitoring vacuum that serves nobody's interests. Iran can't access its own materials, the IAEA can't verify compliance, and the US can't accurately assess the actual threat level.

Next week's IAEA board meeting in Vienna will address these concerns, coinciding with technical team discussions mediated by Oman. The focus will likely be on the missing 441 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium and establishing some form of monitoring mechanism.

But fundamental questions remain unanswered. If Iran truly can't access these materials, does that reduce or increase proliferation risks? Underground storage was presumably meant to protect the uranium from strikes—but it's also protected it from oversight.