IAEA: Iran’s Enrichment Plant Significantly Damaged
Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated on Thursday that Iran’s uranium enrichment facility has been severely impaired and is no longer operational following a large-scale US airstrike in the country.
During an interview with Radio France International, Grossi mentioned that while some might interpret the damage as “destroyed,” he felt that description might be an exaggeration. Nonetheless, he confirmed that the facility suffered “devastating” damage.
He elaborated that the airstrike, which began on June 13, inflicted serious physical harm at three key locations: Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, where Iran conducts much of its uranium enrichment and conversion activities.
“Other nuclear sites in Iran haven’t been targeted,” Grossi noted. He acknowledged the ongoing debate about the extent of the damage, saying, “I think it’s safe to say there’s consensus on this.”
Although Grossi’s team has not yet had access to inspect the impacted sites, he expressed confidence that satellite imagery would provide sufficient insights to assess the situation accurately.
He characterized Fordow, the main enrichment site, as having an exaggerated scale and a theatrical appearance. Despite its daunting design, Grossi suspected that Iran’s uranium centrifuges, crucial for enrichment, may have survived the strike better than originally thought.
“Considering the design of these machines, they typically require precise conditions to function, and they are likely irreparably damaged,” he stated, implying the level of destruction was significant.
Grossi reiterated that the IAEA is aware of the status of Iran’s enriched uranium reserves. He revealed he had communicated the location of this material to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut as part of Iran’s obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Unfortunately, there has been no response from Aragut.
“As a signatory of the NPT, Iran is obliged to maintain a testing system, which should not be suspended without mutual agreement. I hope that won’t happen,” he added.
Grossi claimed that Iran possesses enough enriched uranium capable of producing about 12 nuclear warheads, though he was convinced that it had not yet progressed to the final stage of developing such weapons.
The IAEA director’s remarks aligned with reports from various international experts who countered claims from certain media factions in the US suggesting that the airstrikes had minimal impact on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu provided a report agreeing with both White House and Defense Department assessments, labeling the Fordow facility as “inoperable.” His office stated that the US strike, coupled with Israeli actions against other aspects of Iran’s military nuclear program, had significantly hindered Iran’s nuclear weapon development capabilities for the foreseeable future.
