International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi on Monday told the IAEA Board of Governors that the US attack on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility on Sunday likely caused “very significant damage” despite the facility’s deeply buried location.
According to Grossi, “Craters are now visible at the Fordow site, Iran’s main location for enriching uranium at 60%, indicating the use of ground-penetrating munitions.”
“This is consistent with statements from the US. At this time, no one, including the IAEA, is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordow,” he continued.
However, he said, “Given the explosive payload utilized, and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred.”
Further, he said that “at the Isfahan nuclear site, additional buildings were hit, with the US confirming its use of cruise missiles.”
“Affected buildings included some related to the uranium conversion process. Also at this site, entrances to tunnels used for the storage of enriched material appear to have been hit,” the IAEA director-general said.
Moreover, concerning the Natanz uranium enrichment site, Grossi said that “the fuel enrichment plant was hit, with the US confirming that it used ground-penetrating munitions.”
No increase in off-site radiation levels at all sites
Grossi also said that Iran has informed the IAEA “that there was no increase in off-site radiation levels at all three sites.”
“The IAEA is not aware of any further attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites since those on Sunday morning,” he said.
According to Grossi, the IAEA continues “to monitor the situation and encourage the Iranian regulator to maintain its contact with the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre.”
“Our inspectors remain in Iran, ready to undertake the required tasks when agreed with Iran. In this connection, and in order to guarantee their safety, arrangements have been made,” Grossi also said.
“I wish to thank the Iranian competent authorities for their cooperation on this matter, as well as the UN Refugee Agency, the United Nations Safety and Security Department, and the UN-designated official for security, for their support.”
Grossi called on Israel to cease hostilities to avoid the continued risk of nuclear explosions and contamination within Iran, especially against Iranian civilians.
To date, none of the Israeli attacks on nuclear facilities have been said to have caused a major, dangerous nuclear materials contamination event to Iranian civilians.