Commenting on Israeli attacks on Iran which began on 13 June, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told the IAEA Board of Governors that the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre has been monitoring the situation 24/7 to ascertain the status of Iran’s nuclear facilities and the level of radiation at relevant sites through constant communication with Iranian authorities.
There are at least 30 key nuclear facilities in Iran. Of these, the two main ones are the Natanz uranium enrichment centre and the Fordo uranium enrichment plant. Natanz, an older facility, is partially underground. Fordo, built in the 2010s, has its main workshops located up to 800 metres underground in the mountains near Qom.
According to the IAEA, attacks on the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant site have destroyed the above-ground part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant and electricity infrastructure at the facility, which included an electrical sub-station, a main electric power supply building, and emergency power supply and back-up generators, was also destroyed.
“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,” IAEA said. “However, the loss of power to the cascade hall may have damaged the centrifuges there.”
The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels but within the Natanz facility there is both radiological and chemical contamination. “Considering the type of nuclear material at this facility, it is possible that uranium isotopes contained in uranium hexafluoride, uranyl fluoride and hydrogen fluoride are dispersed inside the facility,” IAEA noted. The radiation, primarily consisting of alpha particles, poses a significant danger if inhaled or ingested. However, this can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures. The main concern inside the facility is the chemical toxicity of the uranium hexafluoride and the fluoride compounds generated in contact with water.
IAEA said no damage has been seen at the site of the Fordo Fuel Enrichment Plant near Qom following an initial attack. However, Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) reported minor damage. According to AEOI spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi: “There is no significant damage in the targeted areas at Fordow. We had anticipated such a scenario and had already moved a substantial amount of equipment and materials offsite.” A subsequent attack reportedly resulted in a minor earthquake, but no damage to the facility was recorded.
According to IAEA, the Khondab heavy water reactor, which is under construction near Arak, was not damaged in the initial attacks but Iranian media noted minor damage after a subsequent strike. Bushehr NPP and the Tehran Research Reactor have not been targeted as yet.
At the Esfahan nuclear site, four buildings were damaged: the central chemical laboratory, a uranium conversion plant, the Tehran reactor fuel manufacturing plant, and the UF4 to EU metal processing facility, which was under construction. IAEA said off-site radiation levels were unchanged.
Grossi acknowledged the cooperation and exchange of information between the Iranian authorities and the IAEA. “Amid theses challenging and complex circumstances, it is crucial that the IAEA receives timely and regular technical information about the facilities and their respective sites. This information is needed to promptly inform the international community and ensure an effective response and assistance to any emergency situation in Iran.”
He added: “The Agency is and will remain present in Iran. Safeguards inspections in Iran will continue as soon as safety conditions allow, as is required under Iran’s NPT safeguards obligations. I am in touch with the inspectors on the ground; their safety remains our top priority, and all necessary actions are being taken to ensure they are not harmed.”
Grossi said he was “ready to travel immediately and engage with all relevant parties to help ensure the protection of nuclear facilities and the continued peaceful use of nuclear technology in accordance with the Agency mandate, including by deploying Agency nuclear security and safety experts, in addition to our safeguards inspectors in Iran, wherever necessary.”
