Iran 'retains nuclear capabilities' despite weeks of bombardment: report

Iran has preserved key elements of its nuclear programme despite five weeks of sustained US and Israeli bombardment, retaining the core tools needed to potentially produce a nuclear weapon, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The report said that while airstrikes targeted major nuclear facilities and military infrastructure, Tehran continues to hold a significant stockpile of highly enriched uranium alongside critical enrichment capabilities.

Western officials cited in the report estimate that Iran possesses nearly 450 kilograms of near weapons-grade uranium – material that, if further enriched, could be sufficient for multiple nuclear weapons.

Much of this stockpile is believed to be stored in heavily fortified underground tunnels, particularly near the central city of Isfahan, shielding it from aerial attacks.

Despite repeated strikes on sites such as Natanz and Fordow in both the latest bombardment and the June 2025 campaign, Iran’s centrifuges used to enrich uranium are thought to have largely survived, either intact or recoverable.

Intelligence assessments suggest that parts of the programme have been dispersed or concealed in hardened facilities, complicating efforts to fully dismantle it.

The findings underscore the limited effectiveness of the US-Israeli war in eliminating Iran’s nuclear capacity, despite claims by both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of having obliterated Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Iran’s nuclear programme remains the main concern among US policymakers, with Vice President JD Vance saying the core dispute surrounding the Islamabad negotiations centred on nuclear weapons.

Speaking to reporters after 21 hours of negotiations in the Pakistani capital, Vance said: "The simple truth is that we need a firm commitment that they will not pursue a nuclear weapon and will not seek the tools that would enable them to build a nuclear weapon quickly".

Although Iran is not currently enriching uranium, according to international assessments, its existing stockpile remains intact and under observation.

Experts say that retaining both fissile material and enrichment infrastructure leaves Tehran with what they describe as a "threshold" capability, meaning it could move towards weaponisation on relatively short notice.

Iranian officials, however, continue to insist on their right to maintain a civilian nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment, and have consistently denied pursuing a nuclear weapon.

The persistence of Iran’s nuclear assets has also prompted debate in Washington over potential next steps, including attempts to seize or neutralise uranium stockpiles through military means.

Analysts say Tehran’s retention of highly enriched uranium, combined with surviving infrastructure, has strengthened its negotiating position, allowing it to participate in the Islamabad talks with increased leverage.