The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Tuesday (3) that there was “some recent damage” to buildings accessing the underground part of the Natanz fuel enrichment plant in Iran, following air strikes attributed to the US and Israel.
In a publication on X, the agency stated that, based on the most recent satellite images available, it can confirm some recent damage to the entrance buildings of the Natanz underground Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP). According to the IAEA, no radiological consequences are expected and no additional impact was detected on the FEP itself, which had already been “severely damaged” in the conflict in June last year.
Natanz was the target of bombings during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, when there was also an offensive by the United States. According to the agency, the most recent damage was concentrated on access structures to the buried facility, while the main enrichment area remains with no new impacts identified.
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Despite the image assessment, the IAEA has not carried out in-person inspections of affected sites since the conflict, as it did not receive authorization from Tehran to visit the attacked facilities. The existence of nuclear material buried in the plant is still considered, alongside damaged or destroyed centrifuges.
On Monday, the 2nd, the director general of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, said that there was, until then, no indication of damage to nuclear installations. The agency continues to monitor the situation amid escalating tensions in the region.
