No indication of attack on Natanz site underground section: IAEA

VIENNA: The head of the UN nuclear watchdog said Monday there was “no indication of a physical attack” on the underground section of Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment site following Israeli strikes that destroyed the plant’s above-ground section.

“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,” International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement to an extraordinary board session. “However, the loss of power to the cascade hall may have damaged the centrifuges there,” he added.

The IAEA board of governors’ session has been convened on the request of Russia, China and Venezuela.

The IAEA session being held at a time when Israel has attacked Iran’s Natanz and Fordow nuclear facilities.

IAEA chief said that the confrontation between Israel and Iran affecting diplomatic efforts to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons.

Earlier, the IAEA said that Iran’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority had informed it of no change in off-site radiation levels in Isfahan, another nuclear site targeted by Israel in an air offensive.

The IAEA also said that four critical buildings at the Isfahan nuclear site had been damaged, including a uranium conversion facility and a fuel plate fabrication plant.

“As in Natanz, no increase in off-site radiation expected,” the agency said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has said that the parliament working over a legislation for Iran’s withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He, however, clarified that Iran has been against preparation of the weapons of mass destruction.