Iran’s big bet after Trump’s threat, built an impenetrable fort to save uranium! What is the challenge before America?

According to sources associated with the US Intelligence Department, Iran has taken several aggressive steps in recent weeks to secure its large stockpile of bomb-worthy uranium. It is being told that Iran has deliberately demolished the underground tunnels where this uranium was kept. Not only this, landmines have also been laid around the entrances of these tunnels.

This step of Iran has come at a time when there was intense speculation that US President Donald Trump would order the US Army to seize this uranium. It is believed that this new security strategy of Iran has made the ongoing nuclear negotiations between America and Iran more complicated.

Did America give warning?

Tension between the two countries has been continuously increasing for the last few months. President Trump has publicly indicated several times that the US military can take control of the enriched uranium present there by taking action on Iran’s nuclear sites. America’s objective is to ensure that Iran cannot use this material to make nuclear weapons.

On the other hand, after increased tension regarding the Strait of Hormuz, there is already a war-like situation in the area. The priorities of the Trump administration also include reopening of this important sea route. But experts believe that the US President’s public warnings inspired Iran to further secure its nuclear stockpile.

According to experts, in view of the fear of possible military action, Iran decided to secure its most important nuclear resources deeper under the ground. Under this strategy, action was taken to close the tunnels and prepare explosive security arrangements around them.

How did Iran’s fortification raise questions?

This new fortification of Iran has also raised questions on the proposed agreement, under which Tehran was to hand over its entire stock of enriched uranium to America. According to the American plan, about half a ton, or more than 500 kilograms, of bomb-grade uranium was to be destroyed at Iran’s nuclear sites. After this, there was a plan to take the remaining material out of the country.

A senior administrative official had earlier told that both the countries had come very close to this agreement. However, now due to the collapse of the tunnels and the laying of landmines there, this process has become extremely difficult and dangerous to implement.

Experts say that even if a written agreement is reached between the two countries in future, the biggest challenge will be to safely take out this uranium buried under the ground. The question is who will do this work and how.

Can Iran get strategic advantage?

Experts on nuclear matters believe that behind this action of Iran, there could be not only security reasons but also diplomatic strategy. Scott Roecker, a former official of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), says that if international negotiators demand Iran to bring its entire uranium stockpile to one place and make it available for inspection, then the responsibility will be entirely on Iran.

What is the big challenge facing America?

In such a situation, Iran can argue that due to the collapse of the tunnels, some uranium can no longer be extracted from there. If this happens, it will be difficult for the US or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure whether Iran has actually handed over its entire uranium reserves.

According to experts, this situation may give Iran an opportunity to keep some of its nuclear resources hidden in the future. This is the reason why this development is being viewed seriously at the international level.

Where is most of the uranium buried?

International intelligence agencies believe that most of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is stored in underground tunnels at the Isfahan nuclear complex in central Iran. Apart from this, some material may also be present at other secret locations.

According to reports, in mid-May the US Army was preparing for a major military operation to seize this nuclear material. However, at the last moment this operation was postponed considering it extremely risky.

President Trump had also admitted in an interview to Fox News that it would be extremely dangerous to forcefully take out the uranium buried under the ground. However, he had also claimed that even Iranian officials would not be able to easily extract this material by avoiding the surveillance of American intelligence agencies.