CENTCOM warned Iran was 'mere steps' from nuclear weapons before IDF strikes began - Jerusalem Post Staff

 

by Jerusalem Post Staff

The same post stated that if Iran had "sprinted" to enrich uranium, it could produce a single weapon within a week and 10 within three weeks.

 

Lieutenant General Michael Kurilla testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to become Commander of Central Command during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, February 8, 2022.

(photo credit: REUTERS/BRENDAN MCDERMID)

 

CENTCOM Commander Gen. Erik Kurilla warned on June 10 that Iran was "mere steps" from reaching weapons-grade uranium as defined by the IAEA in a post that was reposted by the official White House X account "Rapid Response 47" on Tuesday.

Gen. Erik Kurilla, @CENTCOM Commander (June 10, 2025): "It is estimated that current stockpiles and the available centrifuges ... are sufficient to produce its first 25 kg of weapons-grade material in roughly one week and enough for up to ten nuclear weapons in three weeks." pic.twitter.com/1bW68bWQvJ

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 17, 2025

The IAEA considered weapons-grade uranium to be 90% enrichment, while the IAEA estimated that Iran had reached 400 kg. of 60% enrichment, double what it was six months ago.

"This is mere steps from reaching the 90% threshold for weaponization," Kurilla's post said.

The same post stated that if Iran had "sprinted" to enrich uranium, it could produce a single weapon within a week and 10 within three weeks.

An IDF infographic indicating the layout of Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, June 13, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Notably, "sprinting" to produce a weapon includes some steps that Iran hadn't yet achieved. Some of these steps include detonating a nuclear explosion or being able to place a nuclear warhead on ballistic missiles. Different estimates say that with these steps in mind, Iran was closer to being seven months to one year away from making a weapon.

US disputes CNN report

The official X account reposted this message after CNN reported that the US intelligence claimed Iran was actually three years away.

The CNN report published Tuesday followed four days of Israeli strikes across Iran.

The report indicated that intelligence officials disagreed on the speed at which Iran could actually enrich uranium.

It is unclear where the disagreement comes from. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israeli intelligence shared with the US was "absolutely clear that they were working, in a secret plan to weaponize the uranium. They were marching very quickly."

This is a developing story.

Jerusalem Post Staff

Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-858058

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