IAEA
VIENNA: The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, stated on Monday that there is no evidence suggesting a physical attack on the underground section of Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment site, following recent Israeli airstrikes that severely damaged the facility’s above-ground infrastructure.
“There has been no indication of a physical attack on the underground cascade hall containing part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant and the main Fuel Enrichment Plant,” Grossi told an extraordinary session of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors.
He noted, however, that the power outage resulting from the strikes may have caused damage to the centrifuges located in the underground hall, potentially disrupting uranium enrichment operations.
The emergency IAEA meeting was convened at the request of Russia, China, and Venezuela—countries concerned about the escalating military confrontation between Iran and Israel and its implications for nuclear non-proliferation and regional stability.
The IAEA chief also raised alarms about how the ongoing Israel-Iran hostilities are undermining international diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
While Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear arms, Grossi emphasized that tensions could derail years of negotiation and monitoring aimed at maintaining transparency over Iran’s nuclear activities.
The IAEA further reported that Iran’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority had confirmed no changes in off-site radiation levels at the Isfahan nuclear complex, another target in Israel’s recent aerial campaign.
Despite the lack of radiation leakage, the agency confirmed that four key buildings at Isfahan were damaged, including a uranium conversion facility and a fuel plate fabrication plant—both critical components of Iran’s civilian nuclear program.
“As in Natanz, no increase in off-site radiation is expected,” the IAEA said in a public statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In a related development, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei revealed that the Iranian parliament is currently considering legislation that would pave the way for Tehran’s withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
While the spokesman clarified that Iran remains opposed to the development or use of weapons of mass destruction, the move signals growing frustration in Tehran over what it perceives as Western double standards and a lack of effective international response to Israeli attacks.
The developments mark a serious setback for nuclear diplomacy and raise the specter of further escalation in the region, with the risk of drawing in broader international involvement.
