No 'signs of attack' against underground part of Natanz nuclear site, according to IAEA

BEIRUT —The Iranian nuclear site of Natanz has not been impacted in its underground part, based on the information available to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following the attack carried out by Israel to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.

"There has been no further damage" since Friday's strikes that destroyed surface buildings and electrical infrastructure, stated the head of the U.N. body, Rafael Grossi, at the opening of an extraordinary meeting at the headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Monday. "There is no indication of a physical attack on the underground hall" housing the main uranium enrichment facility, he said. However, "the power outage [...] could have damaged the centrifuges located there."

The other enrichment site, Fordo, was also attacked but "no damage was observed," Grossi added, expressing his readiness to "immediately travel" to Iran, where the Agency's inspectors are present.

At the Isfahan nuclear site, however, "four buildings have been damaged": the central chemical laboratory, a uranium conversion plant, the fuel manufacturing plant for Tehran's research reactor, and a facility under construction.

The Bushehr nuclear power plant (south) was not targeted, nor was the Tehran research reactor.

"For the second time in three years, we are witnessing a dramatic conflict between two IAEA member states, in which nuclear facilities are targeted and safety is compromised," lamented the IAEA chief. "Just like it did" after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, "the Agency will not stand by idly."

Iran's ambassador to international organizations, Reza Najafi, on his part urged the Board of Governors and the Agency "to condemn the Israeli aggression in the strongest terms and hold Israel accountable."

After decades of proxy wars and sporadic operations, it is the first time that the two enemy countries confront each other militarily with such intensity.