Iran Prohibits Nuclear Inspectors from Accessing Three Bombed Facilities — A Shift in Bomb Inventory

Iran has formally restricted IAEA nuclear inspectors from accessing the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities, all of which sustained damage from US airstrikes. This decision, backed by a parliamentary mandate and the Supreme National Security Council, raises concerns as it removes the international community's ability to verify whether Iran is restoring its uranium enrichment activities at these critical nuclear sites. Experts in non-proliferation caution that this could enable Iran to potentially enrich uranium to levels suitable for weapons without detection, significantly shortening the timeline for an Iranian nuclear weapon from years to mere months.