President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a proposal that would allow Iran to restart uranium enrichment within ten years. Trump has expressed various reasons for potential conflict with Iran, emphasizing the prevention of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons as a key goal.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran currently possesses 440.9kg of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, closely approaching weapons-grade levels. This stockpile could potentially be used to develop up to 10 nuclear bombs if Iran chooses to weaponize its nuclear program, as stated by IAEA Director General Rafael Gross.
A new plan under review by Trump suggests that Iran would pause uranium enrichment in the near future before gradually resuming production of low-enriched uranium over the next decade. Trump is said to prefer a 20-year suspension to avoid similarities with the 2015 nuclear agreement terminated during the Obama administration, which restricted Iran from enriching uranium beyond civilian levels for 15 years.
Although Iran claims its nuclear program is peaceful, both the IAEA and Western nations have raised concerns about Iran’s past involvement in a nuclear weapons program up until 2003. Inspections by the IAEA have been hindered since June 2025, following attacks that significantly weakened Iran’s military infrastructure and nuclear facilities, making it challenging to locate the enriched uranium.
IAEA reports indicate that around 200 kg of highly enriched uranium is believed to be stored in tunnels at Iran’s nuclear complex near Isfahan. Additional quantities are suspected to be at the Natanz nuclear site, with smaller amounts potentially stored at the Fordo facility.
Experts highlight the difficulty in verifying and removing Iran’s enriched uranium, as the material is stored in canisters, each weighing approximately 50 kg, and designed for storage and transportation. Safety concerns arise if these canisters are damaged, potentially allowing moisture to compromise the uranium.
Ensuring Iran’s compliance with restrictions on enriched uranium poses a significant challenge, given the complexities involved in monitoring and controlling the stockpile.
