Iran ‘Frighteningly Close’ to Developing Nuclear Weapons, US Energy Secretary Says

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright informed lawmakers that Iran is “frighteningly close” to developing nuclear weapons during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday, May 13. “They are weeks, a small number of weeks away to enrich that to weapons-grade uranium,” Wright asserted, referring to Iran’s current uranium stockpile. “There’s still a weaponization process that happens after that, but they’re quite close to constructing nuclear weapons.”

Iran retains a uranium stockpile enriched as high as 60%, while weapons-grade uranium must be enriched to approximately 90%. Wright stressed that he considers even 20%-enriched uranium “very concerning,” given the size of Iran’s stockpile. Several officials from US President Donald Trump’s administration have used Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, reportedly at least 11 tons, as the justification for the Iran war, with Trump himself demanding that Iran give up the uranium as part of any potential peace deal.

Wright told lawmakers that pursuing all of Iran’s enriched uranium is a “wise strategy” for putting an end to the country’s nuclear enrichment program. “Ultimately, the goal is to prevent future enrichment of uranium as well,” he said. “Yes, to have a safe world, we need to end their nuclear program.”

(JPost/VFI News)

“Dear Lord, we lift up the situation with Iran’s nuclear program before You. We pray in Yeshua’s Name that You frustrate the plans of those who seek to harm Israel and the nations. Please grant wisdom to world leaders as they confront this grave threat and provide them with discernment in their decisions. We ask You to protect the people of Israel from any harm and to bring about the complete dismantlement of weapons designed for destruction. May peace and security prevail in the region according to Your sovereign will.”