International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi told the United Nations Security Council on Friday that Israel’s strike on an Iranian nuclear facility was causing “radioactive and chemical contamination.”
“Israel destroyed the above-ground part of the Natanz nuclear facility. There are no indications of damage to the underground enrichment facilities at the site, but the power outage may have affected the centrifuges. There is radioactive and chemical contamination at the site,” Grossi said.
“At present, the Iranian authorities are informing us of attacks on two other facilities, namely the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan,” the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Grossi told the 15-member council.
“At this moment we do not have enough information beyond indicating that military activity has been taking place around these facilities as well,” he said.
Iran is enriching uranium up to 60% purity, close to weapons grade of 90%, at the Natanz pilot plant. But the Fordow site, which is dug into a mountain, produces more of the material, and military experts say it would be difficult for Israel to destroy through bombardment. Reuters reported.
Israel launched blistering attacks on the heart of Iran’s nuclear and military structure on Friday, deploying warplanes and drones previously smuggled into the country to assault key facilities and kill top generals and scientists. Iran retaliated late Friday by unleashing scores of ballistic missiles on Israel, where explosions flared in the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and shook the buildings below.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the Security Council meeting, saying Israel “has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished.”
“Iran reaffirms its inherent right to self-defense as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter and will respond decisively and proportionately to these unlawful and cowardly acts,” Araghchi wrote in a letter.
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