Report: Iran Was Nearing Nuclear Capabilities While Negotiating ‘Peace’

Badr Albusaidi, the foreign minister of Oman, said on Feb. 27 that recent diplomatic discussions with Iran may have produced a potential breakthrough regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. During an interview with CBS News in Washington, he explained that Iranian officials had indicated a willingness in principle to eliminate their stockpile of enriched uranium, allow full monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and convert existing nuclear material into fuel for civilian reactors.

According to the minister, these steps would be designed to make the process irreversible and prevent nuclear material from being diverted for weapons development. Continuous inspections by international monitors would be intended to verify compliance.

However, on the same day the diplomatic progress was reported, the IAEA circulated a confidential assessment raising concerns about undeclared nuclear materials. Inspectors said they could not confirm the exact size, composition, or location of parts of Iran’s nuclear inventory and reported what they described as a “loss of continuity of knowledge” regarding some materials after monitoring gaps.

Analysts reviewing intelligence data, satellite imagery, and monitoring reports suggested that Iran may have continued advancing elements of its nuclear program during the negotiations. Reports also indicated the expansion of fortified facilities connected to nuclear activities.

Tensions escalated further after a series of strikes targeted locations linked to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including facilities near Natanz Nuclear Facility and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. These developments highlight the ongoing international concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the difficulty of balancing diplomacy with verification.