The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported to the UN Security Council that Israel’s airstrike had destroyed the above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site.
At the Security Council meeting, where both Iran and Israel participated as directly involved parties, the two sides exchanged sharp accusations and clashed over the incident.
On June 14, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi attended the emergency UN Security Council meeting, which had been convened at Iran’s request to discuss the Israeli airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Grossi presented a report detailing the damage to the nuclear site and the risks posed by the attack.
IAEA Director General Grossi stated about the above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, “There is 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. However, the loss of power to the cascade hall may have damaged the centrifuges there.”
And he said, “due to the impacts, there is radiological and chemical contamination inside the facilities in Natanz. The type of radiation present inside the facility, primarily alpha particles, is manageable with appropriate radiation protection measures.”
He emphasized, “I stand ready to engage with all relevant parties to help ensure the protection of nuclear facilities and the continued peaceful use of nuclear technology in accordance with the Agency mandate, including, deploying Agency nuclear security and safety experts (in addition to our safeguards inspectors in Iran) wherever necessary to ensure that nuclear installations are fully protected and continue to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes.”
At the Security Council meeting, Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani strongly condemned Israel, accusing it of blatantly violating international law and carrying out a barbaric and criminal attack.
In response, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon criticized the UN for failing to take action when Iran violated its nuclear obligations and advanced its nuclear capabilities. He argued that Israel’s strike was an act of “national self-defense” after exhausting all other options.
Previously, in the early hours of the morning, the Israeli military launched a surprise airstrike involving 200 fighter jets targeting military sites, including the Natanz nuclear facility in central Esfahan, Iran. In retaliation, Iran fired hundreds of missiles toward Israel.
