Iran’s Enriched Uranium Stockpile Unaccounted for Amid Reports of Major Damage to Nuclear Facilities

 U.S. Vice President JD Vance has raised concerns over the unknown status of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile following coordinated strikes on the country's nuclear infrastructure. In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Vance said the intelligence community had not yet verified the location or condition of approximately 400 kilograms of enriched uranium previously held by Iran, noting, “We’re not exactly sure where it is right now.”

The remarks come in the wake of a series of high-intensity airstrikes ordered by President Donald Trump, targeting Iran’s nuclear installations. Vance stated that, while details remain incomplete, the mission significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear capabilities. “We feel very confident that the Fordow nuclear site was substantially set back, and that was our goal,” he said, referring to the deeply-buried uranium enrichment facility near Qom.

The New York Times reported that approximately 880 pounds (roughly 400 kg) of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity—a level still below weapons-grade threshold but considered technically significant—had been stored at the Isfahan nuclear site. While 90 percent enrichment is required for weapons-grade material, uranium enriched to 60 percent remains a proliferation concern due to the ease with which it can be further refined.

Vance emphasized that the destruction of the Fordow facility was a primary objective of the U.S. operation. “We’re going to work in the coming weeks to ensure that we do something with that fuel, and that’s one of the things we’re going to have conversations with the Iranians about,” he added, alluding to potential diplomatic or technical follow-up measures.

Late last week, Israeli airstrikes targeted three of Iran’s critical nuclear facilities—Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow—killing several Iranian nuclear scientists, according to regional sources. All three sites serve vital roles in Iran’s nuclear program: Natanz and Fordow are uranium enrichment centers, while Isfahan serves as the hub for converting raw uranium into feedstock for enrichment.

On Sunday, the United States employed its most powerful non-nuclear ordnance—30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs—to strike fortified Iranian targets, including the subterranean Fordow site. It marked the first known operational use of such munitions.

A Reuters assessment, citing unnamed defense sources, indicated that the bombing likely inflicted “very significant” damage to Fordow’s underground facilities. However, the full extent of the destruction remains unverified due to the depth and fortification of the site.

The Iranian government, in a communication to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) dated June 13, stated it would implement “special measures” to protect nuclear materials and infrastructure under international safeguards, as mandated by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Despite these assurances, the fate of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium remains a key point of concern for international observers and non-proliferation experts. The IAEA has yet to issue a formal update on the condition of Iran’s safeguarded materials following the recent strikes.

As strategic calculations evolve in the aftermath of the attacks, U.S. and Israeli officials have signaled continued vigilance in monitoring Iran’s nuclear trajectory. However, the situation remains fluid, with both diplomatic channels and defense protocols now deeply entwined in determining the region’s next chapter.