Iran was not weeks away from creating a nuclear weapon, as some circles claim. This was categorically stated by nuclear physicist Prof. Georgi Kaschiev in an interview for the program "Face to Face" on bTV.
The expert defined such claims as "pure speculation" and explained the complexity of the process of creating a nuclear weapon.
"It cannot be said that it was a matter of weeks for Iran to make a nuclear weapon and for a nuclear war to follow. Experts alone are not enough, much more is needed for nuclear weapons," emphasized Prof. Kaschiev.
According to the Bulgarian specialist with over 45 years of experience in the field of nuclear reactors, the creation of a functional nuclear weapon requires not only highly enriched uranium, but also complex technology, electronics and engineering solutions that cannot be implemented in weeks.
Regarding the consequences of the American strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, Prof. Kaschiev explained that uranium is enriched in gaseous form at the attacked sites.
"There is heavy uranium gas there, which is very chemically active and toxic. Containers with this gas were destroyed during the bombings. This probably caused local uranium contamination", the expert explained.
He reassured that heavy uranium gas cannot spread outside the facilities, since they are located underground and the gas cannot rise due to its weight.
Prof. Kaschiev warned that there will be serious damage to the facilities themselves, including radiation and environmental risks. The expert also corrected the frequently used expression "radiation leak", clarifying that radiation is not a liquid and cannot "leak".
"There may be a leak of radioactive materials, but radiation is not a liquid", the nuclear physicist specified.
According to him, a real radioactive threat would have to be a major failure of a reactor that has been operating for a long time, which is not the case with Iranian uranium enrichment facilities.
Prof. Kaschiev's position coincides with the assessment of US intelligence, according to which Iran has not developed an active nuclear weapons program, despite the accumulated stocks of highly enriched uranium.