Iran's Nuclear Programme Remains Intact Despite US-Israel Strikes, Can Still Make Bombs

Last Updated:April 13, 2026, 10:18 IST

Experts say Iran’s nuclear programme remains resilient despite US-Israeli strikes, with enriched uranium stockpiles and centrifuge capability still intact.

Iran’s nuclear programme has remained resilient despite repeated US and Israeli military strikes, with experts warning that Tehran continues to possess the capability to produce nuclear weapons.

The issue has also emerged as the central sticking point in the latest diplomatic efforts, as negotiations in Islamabad stalled after failing to bridge differences over Tehran’s atomic ambitions.

LIVE Updates On The US-Iran War

According to a Daily Mail report, Iran’s nuclear infrastructure has not been fully dismantled despite two rounds of military action aimed at crippling its capabilities.

Precision strikes reportedly destroyed research laboratories, facilities linked to warhead development and a key site involved in producing ‘yellowcake’ uranium.

However, experts caution that the core components of the programme remain intact.

Intelligence assessments suggest Iran still retains functional centrifuges and access to fortified underground enrichment sites specifically designed to withstand aerial bombardment.

These hardened facilities are believed to preserve the technical backbone of the programme even after extensive military targeting.

Experts warn that while significant damage has been inflicted on certain installations, the “heart" of Iran’s nuclear capability continues to operate, raising concerns about the speed with which the programme could be revived or expanded.

NUCLEAR ISSUE EMERGES AS TALKS FLASHPOINT

US Vice President JD Vance identified Iran’s nuclear ambitions as the main factor behind the collapse of 21-hour emergency talks held in Islamabad.

Addressing the diplomatic impasse, Vance emphasised the importance Washington places on securing guarantees that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons capability.

“The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon and that they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon," Vance said.

The remarks underline how the nuclear issue remains central to negotiations, with both sides struggling to reach an agreement on limits to Iran’s enrichment programme.

ENRICHED URANIUM STOCKPILE REMAINS KEY CONCERN

One of the most significant concerns highlighted in the report is Iran’s continued possession of a substantial stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium.

The UN’s atomic watchdog has confirmed that Tehran retains nearly 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium, with approximately half believed to be stored in caskets deep within tunnel networks at the Isfahan nuclear facility.

Eric Brewer, a former White House official who worked on Iran policy during the first Trump administration, said Iran is unlikely to easily give up such material.

“Iran is not going to trade those away easily. Its demands are going to be higher than they were during talks in February for surrendering the material," Brewer said.

Reports also indicate that US President Donald Trump considered the possibility of a military operation aimed at seizing Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile during the recent hostilities.

Officials, however, warned that such an operation would be “extraordinarily complex and dangerous."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said removing Iran’s highly enriched uranium remains the “top priority" for US negotiators engaged in the diplomatic process.

STRIKES TARGETED KEY NUCLEAR AND MILITARY SITES

During the 12-Day War in 2025, US forces deployed Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs targeting the Fordow and Natanz enrichment facilities, while Tomahawk missiles struck the Isfahan nuclear complex.

In the more recent five-week conflict, US military efforts focused on degrading Iran’s missile stockpiles and launch systems to reduce the cost of potential future strikes.

Israel also targeted critical infrastructure linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, including laboratories, a university and the Parchin military site.

Reports further suggest Israeli operations sought to disrupt the programme by targeting nuclear scientists considered central to its development.

Despite these actions, experts warn that Iran’s fortified underground facilities, including sites believed to be located deep within tunnel complexes near Natanz, may be sufficiently protected from even the most powerful bunker-buster weapons.

DIPLOMATIC WINDOW REMAINS UNCERTAIN

With a two-week diplomatic window currently open, uncertainty remains over whether talks in Islamabad will resume or if tensions could escalate again into military confrontation.

The enriched uranium stockpile is currently being monitored through satellite surveillance, with no signs of movement reported since last June.

However, analysts stress that any durable agreement would need to address not only the nuclear programme but also Iran’s strategic leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy chokepoint.

Tehran continues to maintain that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes.

It has previously indicated willingness to dilute uranium enriched to 60 per cent down to 20 per cent, though US officials remain sceptical, noting the relatively small technical leap required to convert such material into weapons-grade uranium.

Experts caution that while intelligence penetration into Iran’s programme has increased, the final stage of converting fissile material into a workable nuclear warhead remains the most complex and least visible aspect of Tehran’s long-standing nuclear ambitions.

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