‘Iran frighteningly close’ to getting nukes, warns US Energy Secretary

Trump administration tells lawmakers that the Iranian regime is just weeks away from being able to enrich part of its uranium stockpile to weapons-grade level.

By World Israel News Staff

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned lawmakers Wednesday that Iran is only weeks away from being able to enrich a major portion of its uranium stockpile to weapons-grade level, intensifying the Trump administration’s argument that Tehran’s nuclear program remains an urgent threat despite months of US and Israeli strikes.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Wright said Iran is “frighteningly close” to the nuclear threshold, while noting that producing weapons-grade uranium would not by itself complete the process of building a deliverable nuclear weapon.

“They are weeks, a small number of weeks away to enrich that to weapons-grade uranium,” Wright told lawmakers, according to reports of the hearing. “There’s still a weaponization process that happens after that, but they’re quite close to constructing nuclear weapons.”

Wright made the comments under questioning from Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who pressed him on Iran’s uranium holdings and whether the administration would need to act against all of Tehran’s enriched stockpile to stop the nuclear threat.

The energy secretary said Iran’s material includes uranium enriched up to 60%, close to the roughly 90% level generally considered weapons-grade, as well as a large quantity enriched to 20%. He described the 20% stockpile as “very concerning” because much of the technical work needed to reach higher enrichment levels has already been completed.

A February report by the International Atomic Energy Agency estimated that, as of June 13, 2025, Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile totaled 9,874.9 kilograms, including 440.9 kilograms enriched up to 60% and 184.1 kilograms enriched up to 20%.

The agency said in the same report that, because of lack of access, it could not provide current information on the size, composition or whereabouts of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.

Asked whether the United States would need to target or remove all of Iran’s uranium stockpiles, Wright replied, “I think that’s the wise strategy.”

“Ultimately, the goal is to prevent future enrichment of uranium as well,” he said. “Yes, to have a safe world, we need to end their nuclear program.”

The remarks came as the Trump administration continues to demand that Iran surrender its enriched uranium as part of any deal to end the war.

Reuters reported this week that Washington is insisting Tehran move its highly enriched uranium abroad and renounce domestic enrichment, while Iran wants nuclear issues postponed to a later stage of talks.

Iranian parliamentary national security spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei warned Tuesday that Tehran could move in the opposite direction if attacked again.

“One of Iran’s options in the event of another attack could be 90 percent enrichment. We will review it in the parliament,” Rezaei wrote on X.

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that the administration still believes diplomacy may be advancing, but that any agreement must meet President Donald Trump’s central demand.

“I think that we are making progress. The fundamental question is do we make enough progress that we satisfy the President’s red line?” Vance told reporters at the White House.

“And the red line is very simple. He needs to feel confident that we put a number of protections in place such that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”

The nuclear dispute is unfolding alongside fresh questions over how much damage the US-Israeli campaign has done to Iran’s broader military capabilities.

New US intelligence assessments reported by The New York Times found that Iran has regained operational access to 30 of its 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz and still holds about 70% of its prewar mobile launchers and missile stockpile, according to reports citing the assessments.

The reports challenged public claims by Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iran’s military had been crushed.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales rejected that characterization, saying Iran’s military had been “crushed” and that anyone who believes Iran has rebuilt its military is “either delusional or a mouthpiece for the Revolutionary Guards.”

Acting Pentagon spokesman Joel Valdez accused The New York Times and other outlets of “acting as publicists for the Iranian regime.”

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. But the status of its enriched uranium stockpile, its ability to restore missile access near the Strait of Hormuz and the faltering diplomatic track have kept the nuclear issue at the center of efforts to end the conflict.

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