VIENNA, Austria: The UN’s atomic watchdog said on Tuesday that there appear to have been “direct impacts” on the underground part of Iran’s Natanz nuclear site during Israeli attacks.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had initially said Monday it had “no indication” to that effect, estimating that only the above-ground part of the uranium enrichment plant had been damaged, along with the electrical infrastructure.
However, “based on continued analysis of high resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday’s attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz,” the UN body said on X.
The IAEA has not provided further details at this stage.
Tehran has consistently denied seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, but had been enriching uranium to 60 percent — far above the 3.67-percent limit set by a 2015 agreement with major powers that the United States and Iran have since largely abandoned.
Uranium enriched to between three and five percent is used to fuel nuclear power plants for electricity production.
Uranium enriched up to 20 percent can be used to produce isotopes for medical uses, for example in diagnosing certain cancers.
To build a bomb, enrichment must be pushed to 90 percent.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said he was willing to immediately travel to Iran, where agency inspectors are present.
The IAEA chief’s statement came amid growing concern that the conflict could permanently damage efforts to revive nuclear talks with Tehran, already strained by years of mistrust and United States President Donald Trump’s torpedoing of the 2015 nuclear accord brokered by world powers with Iran.
Natanz, Iran’s main uranium enrichment plant, was among the sites hit on Friday.
In addition to Natanz, four nuclear installations in Isfahan province were also damaged.
The Fordow enrichment site, the Bushehr nuclear power plant and a reactor still under construction appeared unaffected.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday said that the parliament is preparing a bill to pave the way for Iran to exit the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Baghaei said the draft legislation was still in its early stages and would require coordination with lawmakers.
He reiterated Tehran’s longstanding official opposition to developing nuclear weapons.
