IAEA Warns of Nuclear Risk in Iran

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has now confirmed, based on satellite imagery, that entrance buildings at Iran's underground Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant sustained damage in the recent strikes. This follows initial conflicting reports where the agency at first saw no indications of damage, while Iran’s ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, had insisted the site was hit. The IAEA has stated that no radiological consequences are expected from this damage. The Natanz facility, a key site for Iran's uranium enrichment, was already severely damaged in a previous 12-day conflict in June 2025. That earlier series of attacks, initiated by Israel and later joined by the United States, targeted multiple nuclear and military sites, including Fordow and Isfahan. While President Trump claimed at the time that the facilities were "completely destroyed," intelligence assessments suggested the strikes only set back the program by months. Prior to the latest hostilities, Iran had amassed a significant stockpile of highly enriched uranium. According to the last available IAEA estimates, Tehran possessed approximately 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity—a level that is a short technical step from the 90% weapons-grade threshold. This stockpile was considered enough to potentially build as many as 10 nuclear bombs. The recent strikes occurred shortly after a third round of indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Geneva, mediated by Oman, ended without a breakthrough. The U.S. delegation included special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian team. Key disagreements remained over the extent of Iran's enrichment activities and the lifting of economic sanctions. Iran's sole commercial nuclear power plant at Bushehr, which is Russian-built and fueled, has suspended operations amidst the recent attacks, according to Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom. The plant is located in southern Iran on the Persian Gulf and is not directly involved in the enrichment activities that are the primary focus of international concern. The IAEA has reported that since the June 2025 war, Iran has not provided access to its nuclear facilities, preventing the agency from verifying the current size and status of the country's uranium stockpile. This has created what the agency calls a "loss of continuity of knowledge," making it impossible to assure that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.