IRAN
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi will visit the country in early May for the International Conference on Nuclear Science in Isfahan, taking place 6-7 May. The visit comes as the IAEA has warned of Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities, with Grossi stating in an interview with DW earlier in March that Iran is "weeks rather than months" away from having enough weapons-grade uranium to build a nuclear bomb.
- He cautioned against equating this with Iran actually having nuclear weapons, though, adding that this "...does not mean that Iran has or would have a nuclear weapon in that space of time...A functional nuclear warhead requires many other things independently from the production of the fissile material,"
- Grossi's visit comes amid heighted tensions in the region. The tit-for-tat missile/drone strikes by Israel and Iran earlier in the month saw the risk of an outbreak of war reach its highest point in many years, although these fears have now receded somewhat. Nevertheless, the fact that the two countries have now launched direct attacks on one another's territory, focus on Iran's nuclear capabilities from Israel and its allies will only grow.
- Previously, proxies such as Hezbollah had either carried out attacks at Iran's direction, or been the target of attacks for Israel. But the missile/drone barrage launched on Israel, and Israel's strike near (but crucially not at) the Isfahan nuclear facility, has raised the ante surrounding future confrontation.
Map of Key Iranian Nuclear Sites
Source: WSJ, Nuclear Threat Initiative
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