Iran may have removed enriched uranium before US strikes – NYT

Iran may have moved some of its enriched uranium and equipment from its nuclear facilities before the United States launched airstrikes on them.

The New York Times reported this, citing unnamed Israeli officials.

According to preliminary estimates, Iran may have removed about 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60%. To make nuclear weapons, such material must be enriched to 90%.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said that his inspectors last saw this uranium about a week before the Israeli attacks began. In an interview with CNN, he also said that Iran is not hiding the fact that it is protecting this material.

American officials, according to the publication, admit that the exact location of the uranium reserves is currently unknown. At the same time, according to the NYT, it is unlikely that there was a massive movement of equipment - a significant part of it probably remained in place.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on June 22, US President Donald Trump said that US forces had launched a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

As Fox News later reported, US forces attacked facilities in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz using bunker-busting bombs and Tomahawk missiles.

NBC News wrote that the Trump administration expects Iran to retaliate against US forces in the Middle East within 48 hours. In addition, the US State Department published a global security alert, in which it recommended that US citizens abroad exercise increased caution due to the escalation in the Middle East.