Iran 'Frighteningly Close' To Nuclear Weapon Capability, US Energy Secretary Warns

Last Updated:May 13, 2026, 23:36 IST

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warns Iran is weeks from weapons grade uranium, as tensions rise over Tehran’s 60 percent enrichment and a fragile ceasefire with the US and Israel

Iran could be only weeks away from producing weapons-grade uranium, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned lawmakers, raising fresh concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chris Wright said Iran’s uranium enrichment levels have reached a point where the country is “frighteningly close" to weapons-grade capability, even though additional steps would still be required to build an actual nuclear weapon.

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“They are a small number of weeks away to enrich that to weapons-grade uranium. There’s still a weaponization process that happens after that, but they’re quite close," Chris Wright told lawmakers.

Chris Wright pointed to Iran’s reported enrichment of uranium up to 60%, a level far beyond civilian energy use and significantly closer to the 90% threshold typically associated with weapons-grade material.

“When you’re at 60%, you are, although the numbers don’t sound that way, way closer to 90% of the way there for the enrichment necessary for weapons-grade uranium," he said, calling the situation “very concerning".

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The remarks come as diplomatic efforts continue to manage tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States following months of instability and intermittent conflict in the region. A fragile ceasefire has remained in place, though officials have repeatedly warned that it could collapse under renewed escalation.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump described the ceasefire as being on “massive life support", after rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal aimed at easing tensions. Trump \dismissed Iran’s response as a “piece of garbage", while insisting that any long-term agreement would require Tehran to halt uranium enrichment and transfer its stockpile of enriched material to US oversight.

Despite earlier US claims that strikes during last year’s 12-day conflict had “obliterated" Iran’s nuclear facilities, questions remain over the status of nearly 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, which Western intelligence assessments suggest could still play a central role in Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Iran, meanwhile, has warned it may escalate its nuclear programme if attacked again. Iranian parliamentary spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei said on social media that one option under consideration in such a scenario could include moving toward 90% enrichment, adding that the matter would be reviewed by parliament.

News world Iran 'Frighteningly Close' To Nuclear Weapon Capability, US Energy Secretary Warns

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