Iran Says It Evacuated Uranium Stockpiles Before US Strikes –Report
US President Donald Trump earlier confirmed a full-scale military assault on three major Iranian nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
Iran has claimed that the recent strikes carried out by the United States on its nuclear facilities failed to inflict serious damage because enriched uranium stockpiles and critical equipment had already been evacuated from the sites.
US President Donald Trump earlier confirmed a full-scale military assault on three major Iranian nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
The announcement, made via Trump’s official social media platforms, immediately ignited fears of regional instability and raised global concern about the prospect of a full-blown conflict between US and Tehran.
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump declared.
He added: “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”
Reacting, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday accused Trump government of deliberately sabotaging diplomatic efforts through its latest military action.
Abass described the strikes as an act of “criminal aggression” and a clear violation of international law.
“Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy,” Araghchi said. “This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy. What conclusion would you draw?” the minister wrote on X.
He added: “To Britain and the EU High Representative, it is Iran which must ‘return’ to the table. But how can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?”
The minister declared further: “The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations.”
He warned that the consequences of the attack would be far-reaching and long-lasting.
“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior.
“In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest and people,” he said.
Reports in Iranian state media, including IRIB and Mehr News Agency, claim that Iran had evacuated uranium and sensitive components from at least three nuclear sites “some time ago,” suggesting that the US attacks may have largely missed their intended targets.
Hindustan Times also quoted Iranian sources as saying: “Enriched uranium stockpiles moved out of sites beforehand, as per IRIB news. Iran evacuated all three sites ‘some time ago,’ according to Mehr News Agency. U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuke infrastructure in vain? Tehran says it had evacuated sites earlier.
The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations.
The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting…
Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 22, 2025
