United States bombings probably caused “very significant” damage to the underground areas of the Fordow uranium enrichment plant in Iran, excavated in a mountain, although no one can still say the extension, said UN’s nuclear surveillance body, Rafael Grossi, on Monday.
The United States launched the largest conventional bombs of their arsenal on Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday, using these first -time combat bunker ammunition to try to eliminate places such as the Fordow uranium enrichment plant, excavated from a mountain.
“At this time, no one, including the AIEA, is in a position to completely evaluate underground damage to Fordow,” Grossi said in a statement to an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board, consisting of 35 countries.
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The AIEA has not been able to conduct inspections in Iran since Israel started its military attacks on the country’s nuclear facilities on June 13.
“Given the explosive charge used and the nature extremely sensitive to the vibration of the centrifuges, it is expected to have very significant damage,” added Grossi.
In addition to the level of damage caused to Fordow’s underground enrichment rooms, one of the largest open questions is the status of its enriched uranium stock, particularly its over 400 kg of up to 60% purity, a small step over 90% that are nuclear weapons.
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This is enough, if enriched even more, to nine nuclear weapons, according to an AIEA criterion, although Iran says its intentions are peaceful and does not seek atomic bombs.
Iran, however, informed AIEA on June 13 that it would take “special measures” to protect its nuclear materials and equipment that are under the so -called safeguards of the AIEA, the supervision provided for by the non -nuclear non -proliferation treaty, said Grossi.
“In my answer the same day, I indicated that any transfer of nuclear material from a protected installation to another location in Iran should be declared to the agency,” said Grossi.
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“Any special Iran measures to protect your nuclear materials and equipment … can be taken according to Iran’s safeguard obligations. This is possible.”
