POLITICS

Iran's Nuclear Puzzle: What Just Happened?

IranThu Jun 26 2025
Israel and the U. S. recently took action against Iran's nuclear program. They destroyed three nuclear sites. This was after 12 days of conflict. President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu said they won. They believe they stopped Iran from making nuclear weapons for a long time. The U. N. 's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been watching Iran for years. But they couldn't stop Iran from building up its nuclear program. Dr. Or Rabinowitz, a nuclear expert, said the IAEA can warn but can't stop a country from using nuclear material for weapons. The IAEA needs support from other countries to take action. Before the attack, the IAEA reported that Iran had enough uranium to make nine nuclear bombs. Iran was not cooperating with the IAEA. For the first time in 20 years, the IAEA said Iran was breaking its rules. Dr. Yoel Guzansky, another expert, said the U. N. has failed Iran. He pointed out that Iran's foreign minister was speaking at the U. N. while launching missiles at Israel. Guzansky believes the U. N. needs big changes. He said the IAEA is better than other U. N. bodies but still has limits. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful. But experts like Alan Mendoza say Iran has been cheating for years. The IAEA can't enforce rules; it can only monitor. This makes it hard to stop Iran from hiding its nuclear activities. The recent conflict showed that Israel and the U. S. have been gathering intelligence on Iran's nuclear program. This information helped them take action. The question now is: Will this stop Iran's nuclear ambitions for good?

questions

    What specific actions could the IAEA take to improve its monitoring and enforcement capabilities?
    How might Iran's lack of cooperation with the IAEA impact future international nuclear non-proliferation efforts?
    If the IAEA can't stop Iran from building nuclear bombs, can they at least stop them from building nuclear-powered toasters?

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