An Israeli official confirmed on Saturday that part of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile in Isfahan survived last month’s airstrike. The revelation comes amid intensifying speculation about renewed Israeli military action and the uncertain status of US-Iran nuclear diplomacy.

The official told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that “Israel” had briefed US President Donald Trump on its readiness to strike Iran if Tehran resumed efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon. Although Trump expressed a preference for a diplomatic resolution, he did not oppose the Israeli plan.

Diplomatic preferences vs. military pressure

During a recent meeting at the White House, Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he did not favor additional US bombing of Iran, stating, "I can’t imagine wanting to do that."

However, in private talks, Netanyahu emphasized that if Iran restarted its nuclear activities, "Israel" would not hesitate to act militarily. While expressing support for a negotiated outcome, Trump did not object to the proposed Israeli strikes.

According to the WSJ report, a senior Israeli official noted that "Israel" would not necessarily seek explicit American approval for further attacks, though Netanyahu could face resistance from Trump if diplomacy with Tehran gained traction.

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Tensions mount over US-Iran nuclear negotiations

The strikes have placed US-Iran nuclear talks in a more fragile position than ever. On that note, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is willing to resume talks, but only under guarantees that no further attacks will occur during negotiations, according to WSJ. Tehran continues to reaffirm its right to uranium enrichment, while Washington is holding firm on demands for zero enrichment.

No formal date has been set for talks to resume, and European countries have threatened to renew sanctions on Iran should the Islamic Republic refuse to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Alternatively, Iran has indicated that a return to sanctions could push it to exit the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty altogether.

Uranium survives, nuclear timeline altered

According to assessments shared by both US and Israeli intelligence, while Iran’s facilities at Natanz and Fordow suffered major damage due to US bunker-buster bombs, a portion of Iran’s enriched uranium at the Isfahan facility remains intact, with estimates that the material could potentially be recovered with considerable effort. 

Analysts say the airstrikes may have delayed Tehran’s nuclear advancement by up to two years. "The Iranians are going to be extremely cautious," said former US envoy Dennis Ross, citing ongoing threats and Israeli covert operations that have already targeted key Iranian figures in recent years.

Meanwhile, the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has not yet verified whether the June 22 airstrike using its GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs successfully destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities, citing a lack of necessary data. 

Strategic risks and future calculations

While "Israel" remains confident in its intelligence capabilities to detect Iranian nuclear activity, analysts warn that Iran may turn to covert, underground enrichment sites to continue its program. "Israel," which does not possess deep-penetrating bunker-buster munitions, may face limitations in delivering significant damage to such facilities.

For Trump, the challenge lies in managing regional escalation without ceding strategic ground. "My sense is that Trump mostly wants the Iran problem to just go away," said former State Department official Gabriel Noronha, adding, "But he’s clear that there should be no enrichment or nuclear weapons."

As the situation evolves, observers warn that Israeli action could dictate the pace of events, potentially overriding US diplomatic priorities and fueling a wider conflict in West Asia.