IAEA Director Visits Iran Amid Tensions
Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), traveled to Iran on Friday to evaluate the damage to nuclear facilities resulting from recent Israeli airstrikes. The IAEA is the United Nations’ body responsible for monitoring nuclear activities. This week, the Governor’s Committee focused heavily on Iran’s nuclear program.
A resolution passed on Thursday, marking the first such measure since 2006 that officially states Iran is in violation of its nuclear non-proliferation commitments. Following this, Israel intensified its campaign against Iran’s nuclear activities.
Grossi, frustrated by Iran’s past dishonesty and avoidance, has nonetheless remained committed to diplomacy over military solutions. He expressed this during remarks made to the Governor’s Committee on Friday. “I urge all parties to exercise maximum control to avoid further escalation,” he stated, emphasizing that military actions threatening the safety of nuclear sites could have dire consequences for Iran and the wider region.
“Despite the current military actions and rising tensions, the path forward for Iran, Israel, and the international community must rely on dialogue and diplomacy to foster peace and stability,” he added.
It was reported that Grossi spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Friday about the damages to Iran’s Natanz facility. “This development is deeply concerning,” he remarked, insisting that nuclear facilities should never be subjected to attacks as it poses risks to people and the environment. Such actions could jeopardize regional and global peace and security.
As Grossi addressed the IAEA, only one of Iran’s major uranium enrichment sites, the extensive Natanz complex, had been targeted by Israeli forces. Interestingly, he noted that current data indicated there was no increase in radiation levels at Natanz.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Natanz was a primary target of the airstrikes carried out the previous night. He claimed that Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for potentially nine atomic bombs, and that Iran has recently taken unprecedented steps toward weaponizing this enriched uranium, describing the strike as a direct hit on Iran’s core nuclear initiatives.
Reports from Iranian state media suggest that Israel may have targeted a second nuclear site with significant firepower capable of damaging underground facilities, with witnesses noting two large explosions near Fordow in northern Iran. Additionally, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) indicated that they also attacked Iran’s third major nuclear facility near Isfahan on Friday, though specific details about that strike were limited.
Israeli officials elaborated on the damage inflicted on Natanz, claiming to have destroyed critical infrastructure essential for the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons development.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on Grossi to explicitly condemn Israel’s actions as an “attack on Iran’s nuclear facility.” He urged Grossi to convene an emergency meeting of the IAEA to discuss the situation.
On Friday afternoon, Iran requested an urgent meeting with the UN Security Council regarding the escalating tensions. Grossi was expected to address this gathering briefly.
IAEA officials suggested that a special session of the Governor’s Committee might convene either Friday or Monday morning, although no formal announcement had been made as of Friday afternoon.
