Agency’s inspectors ‘ready to start working as soon as possible’
International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi has stressed the need for a resumption of the IAEA’s “indispensable safeguards verification work” in Iran following a 12-day military conflict that severely damaged several of its nuclear sites. In a letter to Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, Grossi proposed that they meet soon.
“Resuming cooperation with the IAEA is key to a successful diplomatic agreement to finally resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities,” Grossi said.
“I’ve written to foreign minister Araghchi stressing the importance of us working together and proposing to meet soon.”
IAEA inspectors have remained in Iran throughout the conflict and are ready to start working as soon as possible, going back to the country’s nuclear sites and verifying the inventories of nuclear material – including more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60% - which they last verified a few days before the Israeli air strikes began on 13 June.
Even though the conflict interrupted safeguards inspections in the country, the IAEA has been closely monitoring the impact of the military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites at Arak, Esfahan, Fordow and Natanz.
“During these attacks, we have seen extensive damage at several nuclear sites in Iran, including its uranium conversion and enrichment facilities,” Grossi said.
“Our assessment is that there has been some localized radioactive as well as chemical release inside the affected facilities that contained nuclear material – mainly uranium enriched to varying degrees – but there has been no report of increased off-site radiation levels.”
Concerns Over ‘Radiological Consequences’
The IAEA said it is aware of concerns in the region regarding any radiological consequences as a result of the strikes on nuclear facilities.
“Based on the data available to us, the IAEA can provide assurances that there has been no radiological impact to the population and the environment in neighbouring countries,” Grossi said.
Crucially in terms of nuclear safety, Iran’s research and power reactors were not targeted.”
Israel said it attacked Iran’s nuclear sites and killed nine Iranian nuclear scientists to stop Tehran developing nuclear weapons.
It alleged that Iran had in recent months “taken steps to weaponise” its stockpile of enriched uranium, which can be used to make fuel for power plants but also nuclear bombs.
In attacks this week the US also targeted three nuclear facilities – Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan. The Trump administration said its strikes were intended to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Iran has one commercial nuclear plant in operation and a second under construction at Bushehr, about 1,000 km south of Tehran on the Persian Gulf.
Tehran has also said it is planning to pour first concrete for a third unit at Bushehr.
