The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed radiation and chemical contamination at one of the sites of Iran’s uranium enrichment plant in Natanz. According to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Israeli airstrikes completely destroyed the above-ground section of the experimental fuel enrichment complex, where Iran had been enriching uranium to a level of 60% U-235, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to Deutsche Welle.
According to information provided to the agency by Iranian authorities, the strikes also incapacitated the site’s energy infrastructure. Among the destroyed elements were the electrical substation, main power supply building, emergency power source, and backup generators.
Despite the extensive destruction of surface structures, the underground facilities—which house part of the experimental enrichment setup as well as the main enrichment installation—remained undamaged. However, Grossi noted that the loss of power to the cascade hall may have caused damage to the centrifuges located there.
The level of radiation outside the Natanz nuclear site remains stable and within safety norms. According to the agency, this indicates no external radiological impact on the population or environment of the city, located in Iran’s central Isfahan province.
Inside the Natanz facilities, however, both radiation and chemical contamination have been observed. Grossi added that the type of radiation—primarily alpha particles—can be controlled using appropriate radiation protection measures.
In addition, Iran has informed the IAEA of further attacks, including strikes on the Fordow fuel enrichment plant south of Tehran, and a facility in Isfahan. The Isfahan site includes a fuel plate manufacturing plant, a nuclear fuel plant, a uranium conversion facility, and a plant for producing enriched uranium powder (UO₂). At present, the agency lacks sufficient verified information about these operations, aside from indications of military activity in the vicinity of facilities that were not originally part of the military operation, Grossi stated.
Earlier we wrote that IAEA confirms possible leak of Israeli nuclear data to Iran.