The stunning details revealed by Steve Witkoff on his talks with Iran and their boastful remarks about its nuclear program have seemingly fallen on deaf ears at the U.N. nuclear agency.

Days into the U.S.-Israel joint campaign against Iran, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi posted to X stating, «There has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb.»

Fox News Digital asked the IAEA how it could assess the development of a possible nuclear weapon without access to Iran’s facilities but received no response at press time.

Grossi’s post came as the U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff gave details to Fox News’ Sean Hannity earlier this week on his talks with the regime prior to the U.S. and Israel launching their military operation against Tehran.

Witkoff revealed the negotiators said they had an «inalienable right» to enrich uranium. When Witkoff countered that the Trump administration had the «inalienable right to stop [them, ]» he explained that the negotiators said this was only their starting point.

«They have 10,000, roughly, kilograms of fissionable material that’s broken up into roughly 460 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, another 1,000 kilograms 20% enriched uranium,» Witkoff explained. «They manufacture their own centrifuges to enrich this material, so there’s almost no stopping them. They have an endless supply of it. The 60% material can be brought to 90% – that’s weapon grade — in roughly one week, maybe 10 days at the outside. The 20% can be brought to weapons grade inside of three to four weeks.»

Witkoff added that during his first meeting with the negotiators, they said «with no shame that they controlled 460 kilograms of 60% and they’re aware that that could make 11 nuclear bombs, and that was the beginning of this negotiating stance.»

«They were proud of it. They were proud that they had evaded all sorts of oversight protocols to get to a place where they could deliver 11 nuclear bombs,» Witkoff said.

Grossi, who is running to become the next United Nations secretary general, did however admit in his post on X that Iran maintains «a large stockpile of near-weapons grade enriched uranium» and said that the Islamic Republic has not allowed inspectors full access to its program. With these facts in mind, he said that the IAEA «will not be in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful» until Iran «assists…in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues.»

Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, FDD, told Fox News Digital, «No one paid much attention to Rafael Grossi throughout the Biden years when he repeatedly warned publicly that Iran was refusing to cooperate with and providing false statements to the IAEA about ongoing investigations into undeclared facilities, activists and nuclear material.»

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The former Trump administration official said, «There are some key facts being ignored today. The IAEA board last year found Iran to be in breach of the NPT. To this day, Grossi has confirmed that the IAEA cannot verify the Iranian nuclear program is peaceful.»

He continued, «This is not Iraq where we lacked hard public evidence of a nuclear weapons program. Iran had built out nearly every part of its nuclear weapons program in plain sight, with the weaponization work moving forward at undeclared sites controlled by SPND. If the administration had evidence the regime was moving quickly to reconstitute key elements of that program — from advanced centrifuge manufacturing to completion of a new underground enrichment site alongside advancement of delivery vehicle programs – the president was fully justified in enforcing a red line he set after Operation Midnight Hammer.»

Map of Iran nuclear facilities attacked by the US in Operation Midnight Hammer. (Fox News)

Spencer Faragasso, a senior fellow at the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), told Fox News Digital that his organization calculated prior to the June 2025 12 Day War that Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms of 60% rich uranium. With about 24 or 25 kilograms of 90% rich uranium required per weapon, Faragasso said the country possessed the ability to produce 11 weapons in one month.

Faragasso said that there remain questions about whether the Iranians can access their enriched materials, and whether they possess additional centrifuges that may have not been installed in the facilities that were struck.

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«Being able to enrich the uranium up to weapon grade is actually a tall order,» he said, explaining that it would require a new enrichment site and components and materials that «Iran would either need to recover from its destroyed facilities» or «illicitly import them from abroad.» With a few hundred centrifuges, enough for two or three cascades, Faragasso said the Iranians could have enriched their uranium stores to weapon grade.

«To be clear, the successes gained from the June war are not permanent and officials from the regime spoke publicly about how they wanted to reconstitute their enrichment program, their nuclear program,» he said. «The more time that goes on, the worse the situation will get. It’s not going to get better, especially regarding the ballistic missile program.»

Satellite imagery taken on January 30, 2026 shows a new roof over a previously destroyed building at Natanz nuclear site. (2026 PLANET LABS PBC/Handout via REUTERS)

He said the Iranians had previously expressed the desire to open a fourth enrichment site, which the IAEA stated was at Esfahan. According to Faragasso, there was «never confirmation» of where the site was or how far along construction may have been.

The group is now tracking an Israeli strike on March 3 on Min-Zadayi, a site that Faragasso said «was completely unknown» to them previously. The Israel Defense Forces reported on X that the site was «used by a group of nuclear scientists who operated to develop a key component for nuclear weapons.» 

The State Department referred Fox News Digital to remarks made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the press on Tuesday on Iran’s nuclear program. 

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«This terroristic, radical, cleric-led regime cannot be ever allowed to have nuclear weapons.» Explaining that the Islamic Republic was «willing to slaughter their own people in the streets,» Rubio directed members of the press to «imagine what they would do to us. Imagine what they would do to others. Under President Trump that will never, ever happen,» he said.

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Democrats in the Virginia state legislature took steps to advance laws aimed at restricting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts and cooperation with local police just days after Democrat Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said a warrantless ICE detainer would not be sufficient to hand a criminal illegal alien suspected murderer with over 30 criminal charges to his name over to federal officials. 

Several of the Senate and House Democrats who took procedural steps and voted in favor of the anti-ICE bills this week include Democrats whose districts are either inside or partially inside Fairfax County, where Stephanie Minter was allegedly murdered by Abdul Jalloh, an illegal alien from Sierre Leone.

Police had warned Democrat Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County, Steve Descano, Jalloh needed to remain behind bars due to his violent record. 

However, Jalloh was allowed back onto the streets, and he allegedly murdered Minter. Now, Spanberger is forcing ICE to get a warrant to take Jalloh into custody. 

Similarly, several weeks ago in Fairfax County, a criminal alien with an ICE detainer was released from jail and allegedly killed a man days later. 

«The tone deafness is unbelievable,» Sean Kennedy, Virginians for Safe Communities’ president, told Fox News Digital. Del. Thomas Garrett, R-56, also called out Democrats this week for officials’ failure to heed warnings to keep Jalloh behind bars, noting he had over 150 interactions with law enforcement and over 30 charges to his name, many of which were subsequently dropped. 

Garrett also pointed out how DA Descano’s website indicates «wherever possible» he will make charging or plea decisions «that limit or avoid immigration consequences.»

Yesterday, «18 Delegates who represent Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria voted to make it harder — not easier, harder — to turn over not illegals, but violent criminal illegals to ICE,» Garrett said in an impassioned floor speech this week, according to North Virginia news station WJLA. «Gaslight much? They told us we were bad for not joining them in voting that way.» 

Many of these bills were released shortly after Gov. Spanberger took office in January. 

A slate of bills advanced this week via a litany of procedural votes, which would restrict ICE enforcement operations, include HB 1441. HB 1441, introduced shortly after Gov. Spanberger took office, would require certain conditions that make it more difficult for ICE to file adequate detainer requests to hold criminal illegal aliens. 

Other bills advanced this week include proposals banning ICE from making arrests in courthouses or within 40 feet of a place that serves as a voting location. Another bill would ban ICE officials from wearing face coverings.

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Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano (Sarah Voisin/Getty Images)

«Most of these people hate Steve Descano, but they’re all playing on the same team,» Kennedy said, referring to some of the Fairfax County-area Democrats who took steps to advance anti-ICE bills just days after Minter’s murder. 

Fox News Digital reached out to several Virginia Democratic legislators, both in the House and Senate, who took steps to advance anti-ICE bills this week. Virginia State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell’s office suggested that their proposed bill aimed at requiring a higher bar for ICE detainers will subsequently prioritize deporting more violent illegal aliens. 

«Our pending legislation is attempting to focus ICE on the president’s campaign promise to focus on capturing and deporting violent undocumented immigrants like Abdul Jalloh who was in ICE custody in 2018 and has been eligible for deportation for 10 years,» Surovell’s office said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

«Perhaps you should ask ICE why they didn’t deport him the first time Trump’s ICE had him in 2018 or even issue a detainer for him the eight times he was arrested since 2023.»

Abdul Jalloh, a 32-year-old man from Sierra Leone who DHS says entered the U.S. illegally in 2012, was arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing a 41-year-old woman in Fairfax County and has an extensive prior criminal history. (Department of Homeland Security/Getty Images)

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But Republican state legislators in Virginia have shown they have a different take.  

«Just weeks after Gov. Spanberger chose to end the commonwealth’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities, a woman is dead,» Del. Delores Oates, R-31, said on the Virginia House floor this week, according to a recording posted online by WJLA. 

Oates was referring to Spanberger’s executive decision to end 287(g) programs that allowed local police and federal immigration officials to easily cooperate. 

«That’s not a coincidence, that’s a consequence,» Oates said.

«I’ve heard my colleagues across the aisle say they don’t want ICE making arrests in public places,» Oates continued. «Well, fine. Then let’s do the responsible thing. Work with federal authorities to detain and remove violent criminals while they’re already in custody. That is safer for our communities. It’s safer for law enforcement. And it’s far more the responsible approach.»     

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Más del 60% de los alimentos disponibles en entornos escolares evaluados en Panamá corresponde a productos ultraprocesados, muchos de ellos bebidas azucaradas o alimentos con alto contenido de grasas y azúcares, según un estudio presentado por el Ministerio de Salud (Minsa) que advierte sobre la alta exposición de niños y adolescentes a la publicidad de productos no saludables, tanto en los centros educativos como en plataformas digitales.

El informe, desarrollado por el Minsa en conjunto con el Ministerio de Educación (Meduca), UNICEF y el Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública de México, busca generar evidencia para impulsar regulaciones que limiten la publicidad de alimentos no saludables dirigida a menores de edad.

Las autoridades sanitarias sostienen que la investigación permite comprender cómo el marketing influye en los hábitos alimentarios de la población infantil y adolescente, en un contexto donde las redes sociales se han convertido en uno de los principales canales de promoción de estos productos.

De acuerdo con los resultados del estudio, los niños, niñas y adolescentes en Panamá están expuestos de manera constante a publicidad de bebidas azucaradas, comida rápida y alimentos ultraprocesados, especialmente en entornos digitales.

La investigación reveló que más del 92% de los menores utiliza el teléfono celular como principal dispositivo de acceso a internet, lo que incrementa significativamente su exposición al marketing digital de marcas de alimentos y bebidas.

Además, el estudio encontró que el tiempo promedio de exposición digital supera las tres horas diarias, lo que amplía el alcance de las campañas publicitarias dirigidas a menores.

Los investigadores advierten que la presencia constante de publicidad de productos no saludables en redes sociales y plataformas digitales influye en las decisiones de consumo de los menores, especialmente cuando se combina con estrategias de mercadeo diseñadas específicamente para ese público.

Las autoridades de salud indicaron que uno de los objetivos centrales del estudio es identificar los factores que influyen en la construcción de hábitos alimentarios desde edades tempranas, con el fin de fortalecer las políticas públicas orientadas a mejorar los entornos alimentarios en el sistema educativo panameño.

El Ministerio de Salud ha impulsado en los últimos años medidas regulatorias como la Ley 75 y la Resolución 049, orientadas a promover opciones de alimentación más saludables en los centros educativos.

Sin embargo, los especialistas advierten que la expansión del marketing digital ha generado nuevos desafíos para las políticas de salud pública, ya que muchas campañas publicitarias dirigidas a menores se desarrollan en redes sociales, plataformas de video y aplicaciones móviles, espacios donde la regulación resulta más compleja que en los entornos tradicionales de publicidad.

El estudio también arrojó un dato considerado positivo por las autoridades sanitarias. Según los investigadores, los niños manifestaron confiar en que sus madres son quienes pueden seleccionar alimentos adecuados para su consumo, lo que abre una oportunidad para fortalecer los programas de educación alimentaria dirigidos no solo a estudiantes, sino también a padres y cuidadores.

Para el Ministerio de Salud, este resultado confirma que las estrategias de educación nutricional deben involucrar a todo el entorno familiar y escolar, incluyendo docentes, autoridades educativas y cuidadores, con el objetivo de crear entornos que favorezcan hábitos de alimentación saludables desde la infancia.

Las autoridades sanitarias también recordaron que Panamá enfrenta un problema creciente de sobrepeso y obesidad en la población infantil y adolescente.

Según datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud, aproximadamente el 37% de los niños entre 5 y 14 años presenta exceso de peso, lo que significa que casi tres de cada diez menores enfrentan esta condición.

Los especialistas advierten que el exceso de peso en edades tempranas aumenta el riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades no transmisibles en la vida adulta, como diabetes, hipertensión y enfermedades cardiovasculares, lo que convierte la prevención en una prioridad de salud pública.

En ese contexto, el Ministerio de Salud considera que los resultados de este estudio constituyen una herramienta clave para impulsar nuevas políticas públicas y regulaciones orientadas a controlar la publicidad de alimentos no saludables dirigida a menores.

La investigación se desarrolló en 20 centros educativos públicos, privados y de áreas periurbanas de la región Metropolitana, donde los investigadores aplicaron encuestas, entrevistas, monitoreo digital y grupos focales para analizar el entorno alimentario al que están expuestos los estudiantes dentro y fuera del sistema educativo,

El estudio fue elaborado bajo la metodología CLICK de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, un modelo diseñado para analizar la influencia del marketing de alimentos en niños y adolescentes, y fue aprobado por el Comité de Bioética del Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud.

Las autoridades de salud reiteraron que los resultados servirán como base para evaluar posibles reformas regulatorias, así como para fortalecer campañas educativas orientadas a promover hábitos alimentarios más saludables en la población infantil panameña.