Iran Threatens to Close Strait of Hormuz if War Breaks Out; IAEA Warns of Potential Nuclear Stockpile

TEHRAN: Amid escalating regional tensions, a high-ranking Iranian official warned on Thursday that any direct military conflict with the United States would result in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Jalal Dehghani Firouzabadi, Secretary of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, stated that such a move would jeopardize global energy security. He noted that China would be the primary victim of a disrupted energy supply, which serves as a significant deterrent for Beijing to oppose any regional war.

Simultaneously, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi issued a chilling assessment, stating that Iran’s current stockpile of highly enriched uranium could theoretically produce “maybe a dozen” nuclear devices. Grossi highlighted that despite the 12-day war last June—during which the US and Israel targeted Iranian nuclear facilities—Tehran’s enriched material remains largely intact within bombed underground sites at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.

The IAEA chief expressed deep concern over the lack of transparency, revealing that inspectors have been denied access to these key facilities for several months. While Iran claims that 400 kg of 60% enriched uranium remains buried under the rubble, the IAEA cannot verify its status without physical inspection. Grossi characterized Iran’s refusal to grant access as a “political stance” that violates the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, emphasizing that the agency requires full verification to ensure nuclear material is not being diverted for military use. (IranIntl) https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202602011665

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