The head of French intelligence stated on Tuesday that all aspects of Iran’s nuclear program have been delayed by several months following recent American and Israeli airstrikes. However, he expressed uncertainty regarding the precise location of Iran’s high-enriched uranium reserves.
Nuclear Program “Significantly Damaged”
Nicolas Lerner, who leads the DGSE intelligence service, told LCI television: “The Iranian nuclear program is the material, it is highly enriched uranium, it is a capacity to convert this uranium from gaseous to solid phase. It is the production of the core and it is the dissemination.”
He added, “Our assessment today is that each of these phases has been very seriously affected, very seriously damaged, and that the nuclear program, as we knew it, has been extremely delayed, perhaps by many months.”
Concerns Over Hidden Stockpiles and Covert Programs
Lerner, speaking for the first time on national television, confirmed that a small portion of Iran’s highly enriched uranium reserves had been destroyed, but the remainder remained in the hands of authorities.
“Today we have indications (of its location), but we cannot say for sure as long as the IAEA does not resume its work. It is very important. We will not have the capacity to track it (the stockpiles),” Lerner said.
Other intelligence assessments have also suggested that Iran maintains a hidden reserve of enriched uranium and the technical capacity for reconstruction. Lerner echoed these comments, stating there was a possibility that Iran could continue with a clandestine program utilizing smaller enrichment capabilities.
“This is why France is so committed to finding a diplomatic solution to this nuclear crisis,” he concluded.
