Iran May Have Lost 400 Kg of Uranium; US Raises Concerns Over Site Destruction

Over 400 Kg of Enriched Uranium Unaccounted for in Iran After Strikes, Says US Vice President.

Washington/Tehran: The status of more than 400 kilograms of enriched uranium in Iran remains unknown following coordinated airstrikes by the United States and Israel, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with ABC News on Sunday.

Vance stated that Iran’s nuclear facilities were likely “severely damaged or obliterated” in the attacks but admitted, “I’m not exactly sure.” He emphasized, however, that the country’s nuclear program had been “heavily set back.” The remarks came after President Donald Trump ordered precision airstrikes on several Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The strikes followed Israeli operations earlier in the week that reportedly killed multiple Iranian nuclear scientists.

According to the New York Times, Iran had enriched approximately 880 pounds of uranium to 60% purity—just below the weapons-grade threshold of 90%—much of which was stored at the Isfahan facility. When asked about the fate of the enriched material, Vance said, “We’re going to work in the coming weeks to ensure that we do something with that fuel,” adding that discussions with Iran on the matter are anticipated.

Vance confirmed that a primary objective of the U.S. mission was to neutralize the underground Fordow facility. “We feel very confident that the Fordow nuclear site was substantially set back,” he said. On Sunday, the U.S. deployed its most powerful conventional bunker-buster bombs for the first time in combat, targeting fortified underground sites believed to house sensitive enrichment operations.

A Reuters report suggests the bombing likely caused “very significant” damage to Fordow’s subterranean structures, though the exact extent remains unclear. Iran, meanwhile, notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on June 13 that it would take “special measures” to protect nuclear materials and equipment under IAEA safeguards, in line with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

While Fordow and Natanz handle uranium enrichment, the Isfahan site is critical for raw material processing. Damage to these facilities could severely impact Iran’s nuclear capabilities.