Iran has announced that it will soon begin releasing what it claims is a trove of Israeli nuclear secrets, escalating already high tensions as European powers prepare to press for a renewed imposition of United Nations sanctions over Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme.
In a televised address on Sunday, Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, declared that Tehran had acquired a “vast collection of strategic and sensitive [Israeli] documents, including plans and data on the nuclear facilities.” Khatib did not provide evidence but said proof would be released shortly. He implied that the materials were connected to the recent arrests of two Israeli nationals, Roi Mizrahi and Almog Attias, on charges of espionage for Iran.
The claims, which remain unverified, have been met with scepticism even within Iran, where doubts linger over the feasibility of such a major intelligence coup. Analysts suggest the announcement may be more of a strategic warning to deter Israel from acting on its repeated threats to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, a way of signalling that Tehran could retaliate with informed precision.
The timing of the claim coincides with growing international scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear activities. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are pushing for a vote this week at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board meeting in Vienna that could lead to the reimposition of UN sanctions in October, when the 2015 Iran nuclear deal formally expires.
A 20-page IAEA report, commissioned by the agency’s secretariat, details Iran’s failure to comply with the nuclear agreement. According to the report, Iran has enriched 400kg of uranium to 60% purity, just below weapons-grade, and enough to potentially manufacture 10 nuclear bombs. The report also notes that Iran’s uranium stockpile has surged by 50% since March.
European leaders will cite the report to call for a formal motion declaring Iran in violation of its safeguards obligations. If passed, it would mark the first such ruling since 2005 and would trigger a mechanism to reinstate sanctions under the terms of the original 2015 deal. Importantly, Russia and China, often protective of Tehran, would be unable to veto the sanctions due to the agreement’s structure.
Iran has already warned it will retaliate against any such decision. Potential countermeasures include further restricting access for IAEA inspectors and accelerating uranium enrichment. Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, stated that since the last IAEA censure, Iran has increased production of 60% enriched uranium sevenfold and activated 20 new cascades of advanced centrifuges.
Iran issues warning
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a stark warning: “Falsely accusing Iran of violating safeguards, based on shoddy and politicised reporting, is designed to produce a crisis. Mark my words, as Europe ponders another major strategic mistake, Iran will react strongly. Blame lies solely and fully with irresponsible actors who stop at nothing to gain relevance.”
Meanwhile, the United States and Iran have yet to schedule a new round of bilateral talks on the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, particularly over the contentious issue of domestic uranium enrichment. While Iran sees enrichment as a matter of sovereignty, the U.S. maintains it must be halted to prevent weaponisation.
Despite his administration’s 2018 withdrawal from the Iran deal, former President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed interest in negotiating a new agreement. According to sources, he has set a 60-day deadline, expiring on June 11, for progress, though past deadlines have proven flexible.
Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the IAEA, remains cautiously optimistic. “Both sides appear sincere,” he said, noting that diplomatic momentum is building. Russia has offered to mediate and could serve as a host country for Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile if a deal is reached. One proposal on the table mirrors a prior agreement from 2004–05, under which Iran would temporarily suspend enrichment.
