Nuclear watchdog makes 'unimaginable' prediction as uranium site hit again
Israel and the US have carried out airstrikes on nuclear sites in Iran where they claimed the Islamic regime have been working to enrich uranium to create a weapon of mass destruction
A nuclear watchdog has made an "unimaginable" prediction after a major Iranian uranium site was hit once again.
Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors the use of nuclear technologies, gave a stark warning during the organisation's board of governors meeting today. Mr Grossi stressed " armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place" amid concerns they could lead to radiation leaks that go beyond the country's borders.
"I therefore again call on maximum restraint. Military escalation not only threatens lives, it also delays us from taking a diplomatic path," he said. "To achieve the long-term assurance that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon… we must return to negotiations."
Mr Grossi's comments come after Israel and US bombing campaigns across Iran. The US hit three nuclear sites in the country after Israel first carried out strikes amid fears Tehran could be pursuing a weapon of mass destruction.
US President Donald Trump carried out attacks on the Fordow nuclear site over the weekend, with Israel also carrying out strikes on routes to the area. The escalation led Mr Grossi to warn "violence and destruction could reach unimaginable levels."
He continued: "I'm ready to travel immediately to Iran. We need to keep working together despite existing differences."
Iranian state TV reported some 500 people have been killed since Israel launched its attack on Iran on June 13. It estimated another 3,000 have been injured.
While both Israel and the US have been keen to state the bombing campaign aims to eliminate Iran's nuclear programme, there have been comments from both countries' leaders that hint at a larger war goal. Following the bombing of the Evin prison in Tehran, Israel's minister for the economy Nir Barkat said he "won't shed a tear" should the country's regime fall.
In the US, Republican officials have been keen to downplay any notion that regime change is a major war objective. US Defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the aim was not to overthrow Iran's government.
Speaking about the military strikes, Mr Hegseth said: "This mission was not and has not been about regime change." He went on to describe the mission as a "precise operation."
But Mr Trump appeared to contradict that with a post shared to his social media platform TruthSocial. The president said: "It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!"
Iranian officials have since warned they would continue to attack Israel and threatened the US and its allies. This led UK officials to put military personnel based in the Middle East on high alert.
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