The fate of Iran’s nuclear programme, and attempts by the US and Israel to destroy it, could hang on the Islamic republic’s more than 400kg of uranium enriched to levels just short of weapons-grade.
After US stealth bombers dropped huge 30,000lb bunker-buster bombs on the Islamic state’s main nuclear sites, Donald Trump claimed the “key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated”.
There is little doubt that the sites Tehran has been using to produce highly enriched uranium — Natanz and Fordow — have suffered severe damage. A third site in Isfahan, used in the fuel cycle but also for storage, was hit by Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from an American submarine.