The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, on Monday urgently called for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to regain access to Iran’s nuclear facilities. The plea comes in the wake of significant attacks on Iranian nuclear sites by Israel and the United States, raising grave concerns about the integrity of the nuclear materials and the risk of further escalation.
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the IAEA’s board of governors in Vienna, Grossi emphasized the critical need for a cessation of hostilities in the volatile Middle East. “Iran, Israel and the Middle East need peace,” he stated, outlining a series of steps required to de-escalate the perilous situation.
A primary demand from Grossi is the immediate return of IAEA inspectors to Iran’s nuclear sites to “account for the stockpiles of uranium, including, most importantly, the 400 kilogrammes enriched to 60 percent.” This highly enriched uranium is of particular concern to international observers, as it is only a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels. A leaked IAEA report earlier this month indicated that Iran had amassed 408.6 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% as of May 17.
Grossi revealed that Tehran had informed him via a letter on June 13 of “special measures to protect nuclear equipment and materials,” underscoring the precarious security environment surrounding these sensitive sites. “There needs to be a cessation of hostilities for the necessary safety and security conditions to prevail so that Iran can let IAEA teams into the sites to assess the situation,” he reiterated.
Damage Assessment and Proliferation Concerns
Over the past weekend, the United States launched strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—following a week of Israeli bombardments that commenced on June 13. These attacks targeted Iran’s missile and nuclear facilities, military leaders, security services, and even residential areas.
Grossi provided a stark assessment of the damage, noting that “craters are now visible at the Fordo site, Iran’s main facility for enriching uranium at 60 percent, indicating the use of ground-penetrating munitions.” He further added that “very significant damage” is expected at Fordo due to the “explosive payload utilized and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges.” He acknowledged, however, that “at this time, no-one including the IAEA, is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordo.” Separate reports, citing unnamed Iranian sources, suggest that Iran may have moved a significant portion of its 60% enriched uranium from Fordo to an undisclosed location prior to the U.S. strikes.
Iran’s uranium enrichment activities have been a source of decades-long tension with Western powers, who fear the program is a cover for developing an atomic bomb. Tehran consistently denies these allegations, asserting its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Meanwhile, Israel maintains a policy of ambiguity regarding its own atomic arsenal, neither confirming nor denying its existence, though the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has estimated it possesses approximately 90 nuclear warheads.
Calls for Diplomacy and De-escalation
European powers have intensified their calls for Tehran to re-engage in diplomatic efforts with the United States to resolve the nuclear standoff. However, Iran has maintained that it will only consider diplomacy once Israel ceases its bombardment of the Islamic Republic.
The international community is gravely concerned about the potential for further escalation in a region already fraught with conflict. The IAEA’s ability to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities is crucial for non-proliferation efforts, and the current inability to access these sites significantly hampers the agency’s oversight capabilities. The future of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) in the region, already under strain, hinges on a diplomatic resolution to the current crisis.
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