Iran is under increasing pressure after a series of military strikes against its nuclear installations. This isn’t the first time former Iranian officials have bragged about the size of their nascent nuclear stockpile. At the same time, U.S. officials are painting opposite pictures of Iran’s adherence to international accords.
In testimony, Seyed Mousavian, former Iranian ambassador to Germany, disclosed that Iran now has an inventory of 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity. He described this stockpile as a “bargaining chip.” More importantly, he reminded us that Iran remains a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This would further strengthen Iran’s adherence to non-proliferation, even in the face of rising tensions.
U.S. military operations against Iranian facilities under Operation Midnight Hammer. Israel is actively coordinating with all three of these operations, raising the temperature in an already combustible situation. These strikes are meant to address what the U.S. views as dangers coming from the escalation of Iran’s nuclear program.
Recent Strikes and Damage Assessment
On June 18, 2025, Israel launched strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear sites, reportedly causing significant damage to the Fordow facility, as evidenced by satellite imagery. According to Mousavian, what’s most confusing about these attacks is not knowing what they’re trying to achieve.
“There is a dispute in the US … but even if it is completely destroyed as President Trump has claimed repeatedly, even if it has been severely damaged, what was the objective? To destroy the facilities, buildings and utilities?” – Seyed Mousavian
There is a lot of uncertainty around the damage assessments. He further defended the morality and success of the strikes, questioned their overarching aims. “I don’t know the extent of the damages, nobody knows,” he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump has characterized the strikes on Iranian facilities as a considerable success, asserting that “monumental damage was done to all nuclear sites in Iran,” while using the term “obliteration” to describe the impact of these actions.
Compliance with International Agreements
Mousavian stressed the point that Iran fully complied with the nuclear agreement for three years. Unexpectedly, in 2018, the United States pursued extensive sanctions that officially torpedoed the pact. He reiterated the point that it was the U.S. that was in violation of the nuclear agreement, with Iran still abiding by its terms.
“If the US would respect the rights of Iran like other members of the non-proliferation treaty, Iran would stay,” he stated, indicating that ongoing U.S. pressure could lead Iran to reconsider its commitments under the NPT.
He asserted that Iran would never pursue a nuclear bomb and would maintain transparency and cooperation with international inspections if treated equitably.
Broader Implications and Future Considerations
And the geopolitical landscape around Iran’s nuclear program is still pretty complicated, to say the least. Mousavian stressed that the U.S. actions will determine whether Iran chooses to engage. Such decisions will determine the course of Iran’s future in the NPT.
“If the US is going to accelerate hostilities, wars, assassinations, terror and cyber attacks … why should they not?” – Seyed Mousavian
Most importantly he reiterated the profound knowledge and technological capabilities that Iran has. The answer lies in the character of Iran’s nuclear program today. “They will not be able to destroy Iranian nuclear capability because Iranians, they have the knowledge,” he affirmed.
Mousavian’s was the last presentation before lunch, and he addressed a misperception of threats in the region. He noted that while Israel attacked Iran, the discussion tends to focus on an imagined Iranian threat instead.
“It is American threat. It is Israeli threat,” he concluded, framing the dialogue around these recent military actions within a larger context of regional tensions.
