Iran Booby-Traps Uranium Tunnels As Trump Pushes Nuclear Deal

Iran Booby-Traps Uranium Tunnels As Trump Pushes Nuclear Deal

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Iran has reportedly mined and sealed tunnels leading to a major stockpile of highly enriched uranium, raising fresh questions over whether Tehran can fully comply with a nuclear agreement expected to be signed with the United States.

According to a report citing multiple intelligence sources, Iranian authorities planted explosives at tunnel entrances and deliberately collapsed access routes to an underground nuclear complex near Isfahan. The move is said to have been triggered by fears that the US could launch a ground operation to seize the material.

Cache Holds More Than Half Of Iran's Enriched Uranium

The tunnel network is believed to contain around 440 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity — a level just short of weapons-grade material.

The cache reportedly represents more than half of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and is located at one of the few major nuclear sites to survive last year's 12-day conflict with Israel.

Officials believe Iran has spent recent weeks blocking access to parts of the facility, making any future recovery effort significantly more difficult.

Deal Faces Immediate Practical Problems

The reported mining of the tunnels could complicate a key requirement of the proposed US-Iran agreement.

Under the deal, Tehran would be expected to surrender its enriched uranium stockpile for destruction and removal from the country. However, experts warn that damaged and mined tunnels could make it difficult to verify exactly how much material remains accessible.

Former US nuclear security official Scott Roecker warned that Iran could later claim some of the uranium was impossible to recover.

"I would worry that Iran would claim that some portion of the highly enriched uranium was irretrievable," he said.

Such a scenario could leave international inspectors unable to confirm whether all nuclear material had been accounted for.

Trump Says Deal Could Be Signed Within Hours

The report emerged as President Donald Trump declared that a nuclear agreement with Iran could be signed on Sunday.

Writing on social media, Trump described the proposed accord as "a wall to no nuclear weapon" and contrasted it with the Obama-era nuclear deal, which he has repeatedly criticised.

Trump insisted no US money would be handed to Iran and said sanctions relief would only follow Iranian compliance.

He also claimed the agreement would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and eventually allow the United States to recover and destroy remaining nuclear material buried beneath damaged facilities.

Tehran Faces Stark Choice

The latest revelations suggest Iran may be attempting to preserve leverage even while moving toward a diplomatic settlement.

If the tunnels remain blocked and mined, inspectors could face months of work before they can verify the contents of the underground stockpile.

That leaves a central question hanging over any deal: whether Iran is genuinely preparing to surrender its nuclear material — or merely making it harder to prove what remains hidden underground.

SOURCE