Seyyed Hojjat Qadiri, an Iranian nuclear affairs expert, argued that preserving the enriched uranium stockpile is vital for Iran's deterrence. He warned that without it, building an atomic bomb in response to a US nuclear attack would be technically nearly impossible.
A prominent Iranian nuclear expert publicly made the case against Tehran relinquishing its enriched uranium stockpile, framing the material as the essential component of the regime's deterrence posture. In remarks circulated via Iranian media channels on Sunday evening, Seyyed Hojjat Qadiri stated that preserving enriched uranium is a prerequisite for Iran's ability to retaliate against a potential American nuclear strike.
"The enriched uranium ensures Iran's counter-response to an American nuclear attack," Qadiri was quoted as saying. "If we give up this uranium, in the event of a threat of an American nuclear attack, technically and engineering-wise it would be very difficult, even impossible, for Iran to build an atomic bomb."
The comments come amid an active international and Israeli policy debate over the fate of Iran's near-weapons-grade stockpile. As The Zioneer has reported this month, the US and Iran have been negotiating a memorandum of understanding that would determine whether the enriched material — estimated at some 460 kg of 60% enriched uranium — leaves Iran, is diluted on Iranian soil, or remains in its current form. Senior US officials have estimated an 85% chance of a deal being signed, while hardliners inside Iran have repeatedly rejected the removal of enriched uranium from the country.
Qadiri's statement reflects the internal hardline position, as Iran continues to deliberate its policy ahead of scheduled talks. The expert's argument — that only immediate access to bomb-grade material guarantees a credible deterrent — underscores the technical stakes of the negotiations. The remarks are attributed to a single source and have not yet been corroborated by official Iranian government statements.
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