Latest news with #MAXARTECHNOLOGIES
Straits Times
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Centrifuges at Iran's Fordow site ‘no longer operational': UN nuclear watchdog head
A satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the damage at the Fordow enrichment facility in Iran after US strikes on June 22. PHOTO: MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/NYTIMES PARIS – Centrifuges at the Fordow uranium enrichment plant in Iran are 'no longer operational' after the United States attacked the site with bunker-busting bombs, Mr Rafael Grossi, the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, said on French radio on June 26 . Inspectors from the watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, have been unable to gain access to the nuclear sites since the strikes. Mr Grossi told Radio France Internationale in an interview that while evaluating the damage from the strikes using satellite images alone was difficult, given the power of the bombs dropped on Fordow and the technical characteristics of the plant, 'we already know that these centrifuges are no longer operational'. The centrifuges – giant machines that spin at supersonic speeds to enrich uranium – require a high-degree of precision and are vulnerable to intense vibrations, he said. 'There was no escaping significant physical damage,' Mr Grossi said. 'So we can come to a fairly accurate technical conclusion.' He said, however, that it would be 'too much' to assert that Iran's nuclear programme had been 'wiped out' after the Israeli and American bombing campaign. Mr Grossi noted that not all of Iran's nuclear sites had been struck and said Iranian officials had told him that they would take 'protective measures' for the uranium they had already enriched. Still, he said, the nuclear programme has definitely suffered 'enormous damage'. He declined to say how far Iran's nuclear programme had been set back. 'Perhaps decades, in relation to what? In relation to what type of activity or objectives?' Grossi said when asked about comments made this week by US President Donald Trump at a Nato summit in the Netherlands. 'It's true that with these reduced capacities,' he added, 'it will be much more difficult for Iran to continue at the same pace as before.' The comments from Grossi, director-general of the atomic agency, came amid questions over the effectiveness of the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. Mr Trump has insisted that the bombing 'obliterated' the Fordow site, a position that some in his administration have continued to defend after the leak of a classified, preliminary US intelligence report that found the attack had set back Iran's nuclear programme by only a few months. The CIA director, Mr John Ratcliffe, later said that the strikes had 'severely damaged' Iran's nuclear programme . On June 26 , Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave more details about the planning and execution of the US strikes. But they offered no new assessments of the damage inflicted on the sites or on the state of Iran's nuclear programme. One of the main purposes of the UN watchdog is to monitor nuclear activity in Iran and other countries, including those that have signed on to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. But the agency's relations with Iran were at a low point even before Israel attacked the country on June 13. UN inspectors remained in Iran throughout the war but were not able to gain access to the nuclear sites amid the fighting. And it was not clear when or even if they would be allowed to do so again now that a ceasefire has taken hold. On June 26 , Iran's Guardian Council, which has veto power over legislation in the country, approved a bill passed by parliament that suspends cooperation with the UN watchdog and bars its inspectors from the country. But the fate of the new law – which would effectively block the international community from having oversight of Iran's nuclear programme – was still unclear. The decision to enact it lies with Iran's moderate president, Mr Masoud Pezeshkian, who was elected on campaign promises to engage with the West and who has publicly signaled his willingness to return to the negotiating table. As a signatory of the nonproliferation treaty, Iran is 'required to have an inspection system,' Grossi noted in the interview. He urged Iranian authorities not to 'unilaterally' reject inspections 'because otherwise we'd be on the brink of another major crisis.' Grossi, who said Iran's cooperation with the UN watchdog before the war was 'limited,' said that he had reached out to Iran's foreign minister to discuss a potential return of agency inspectors to Iranian nuclear sites but had yet to receive a response. NYTIMES Erika Solomon contributed reporting from Berlin. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
RNZ News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
A speedbump, not a roadblock for Iran's nuclear programme
Satellite imagery shows airstrike craters over underground centrifuge halls filled and covered with dirt in Natanz nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran. Photo: AFP Photo/ Satellite Image ©2025 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES US President Donald Trump said his bombs 'obliterated' nuclear facilities in Iran, but a nuclear scientist here in New Zealand says 'you can't destroy knowledge' It has been a long time since we have been on the edge of our seats wondering if a full-blown nuclear war is about to happen. But many had that sensation when the US President said last weekend that Iran's nuclear facilities had been "completely and totally obliterated". Donald Trump's bullseye claim is now in question but the bombing had many experts talking about the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 at the height of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union. "They were very real fears and there were some very close calls, in particular during the Cuban Missile Crisis we now know the world came incredibly close to nuclear conflict," international law and nuclear weapons expert Anna Hood of Auckland University says. People feared then that the "Cold War would turn hot". Since then we have had volatile moments and right now the risk is heightened, she says. "There were higher numbers of weapons during the Cold War. We have seen some level of disarmament since then but we haven't seen enough movement in the last few years. The numbers are still very high." Not only have the numbers stayed high, but countries are trying to upgrade and enhance the weapons they do have, she says. "I would like to hope that most states, all states, wouldn't go there [nuclear war] or even if they've got nuclear weapons that that's not what they'll use but I think there are very serious risks in terms of what happens in the heat of a conflict, in terms of accidents." Hood focuses much of her time on the numerous nuclear issues afflicting the world today and how to work towards a nuclear-free world. "We are a long way unfortunately from that," she admits, pointing to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' annual Doomsday Clock showing we are closer than ever - 89 seconds to midnight, and catastrophe. Hood tells The Detail why the US strike on Iran is a violation of international law and the possible consequences. While the impact of the B2 stealth bomber attacks is still not clear, senior physics lecturer at Auckland University David Krofcheck says it does not end Iran's nuclear amibitions. "Israel has had a go at assassinating their nuclear weapons scientists there but you can't destroy knowledge, and that's the critical thing. It can be rebuilt, you just start from scratch," he says. Iran insists it is not developing weapons, but Krofcheck says he can't think of another reason it would need to enrich uranium to 60 percent, as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. But even with 60 percent enriched uranium, there's more to the process and it would have been months before it had a weapon ready. "That nuclear device that's built might be gigantic, the size of a house. It's not something you can pick up and put on a missile and shoot at another country." Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here . You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on X .
Straits Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Iran says nuclear facilities ‘badly damaged' by US strikes
Damage seen at the Fordow enrichment facility in Iran after the US strikes on June 22. PHOTO: MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/NYTIMES TEHRAN - Iran said its nuclear installations were 'badly damaged' by US air strikes, the first such comments by Tehran as debate grows over how much the bombardment managed to dent the Islamic Republic's atomic programme. 'Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told Al Jazeera TV in an interview on June 25. Mr Baghaei did not give further details and said the authorities were still assessing the situation on the ground. He added that the US attacks were a 'detrimental blow' to international law and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to which Iran is a signatory. The comments are the first time an Iranian official has addressed the scope of damage caused by the June 22 strikes which involved US attacks on three nuclear facilities in Iran using more than a dozen 30,000-pound bombs. The comments came hours after US President Donald Trump disputed a US intelligence report that said the attacks had limited impact on Iran's nuclear program below ground. An assessment from the Pentagon's Defence Intelligence Agency said the bombing likely did not cripple the core components stored underground including centrifuges, according to people familiar with its contents. Commenting on the intelligence leak, Mr Trump said the report was 'very inconclusive' but that he still believed the sites were demolished. 'The intelligence says we don't know,' he told reporters at a NATO summit in the Hague. 'It could have been very severe. That's what the intelligence says. So I guess that's correct, but I think we can take that we don't know. It was very severe. It was obliteration.' International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi has said 'very significant damage is expected to have occurred' at Fordow, Iran's main uranium enrichment site which is built under a mountain. The IAEA has not had access to Iran since Israel started attacking Iran on June 13. Satellite images suggest US avoided Iran's nuclear reactors Satellite images show that US military planners were careful not to hit reactors at the Isfahan research facility which appears to have been intentionally left untouched, according to four senior officials in Vienna. The Israel Atomic Energy Commission said the US strikes on Iran's Fordow nuclear site rendered the enrichment facility inoperable. It said both Israeli and US attacks set back the country's ability to develop its nuclear weapons by 'many years'. Mr Trump brokered a ceasefire to end the 12-day war between Israel and Iran that appeared to be holding on June 25. The president had lashed out at both countries a day earlier, and particularly Israel, over what he said were early violations of the truce. Both nations have said they'll honour the ceasefire provided their enemy does the same. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Economist
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Economist
Trump's Iran attack was ambitious. But has it actually worked?
Middle East & Africa | America at war Photograph: MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES 'O PERATION MIDNIGHT HAMMER' , as America called its strike on Iran, was a vast raid involving more than 125 military aircraft. It was the largest-ever strike by B -2 stealth bombers, and the first use in battle of the GBU -57, America's largest bunker-buster bomb. Seven bombers flew east over the Atlantic from Whiteman air-force base in Missouri on the 37-hour mission to Iran and back, helped by in-flight refuelling tankers and fighter jets to sweep the skies ahead of them. Decoy planes flew west over the Pacific to confuse anyone watching their movement. Dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles were also fired at Iran from submarines. Iranian forces did not respond. The scope and scale of the operation would 'take the breath away' of most observers, boasted Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary. World Iran Middle East War in the Middle East United States To bank its gains after 12 brutal days it must turn off its ferocious war machine After America announces a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, big questions remain A ceasefire may soon end the fighting Missiles hit Israel shortly after Trump announced a ceasefire He must decide whether to keep on fighting
Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
IAEA chief expects 'very significant damage' at Iran's Fordow site
FILE PHOTO: IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi holds a news conference after the first day of the agency's quarterly Board of Governors meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, June 9, 2025. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner/ File Photo A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex, after the U.S. struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran June 22, 2025. MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/Handout via REUTERS VIENNA - U.S. bombing probably caused "very significant" damage to the underground areas of Iran's Fordow uranium enrichment plant dug into a mountain, though no one can yet tell the extent, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday. The United States dropped the biggest conventional bombs in its arsenal on Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday, using those bunker-busting munitions in combat for the first time to try and eliminate sites including the Fordow uranium-enrichment plant dug into a mountain. "At this time, no one, including the IAEA is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordow," Grossi said in a statement to an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors. The IAEA has not been able to carry out inspections in Iran since Israel started its military strikes on nuclear facilities there on June 13. "Given the explosive payload utilised and the extreme(ly) vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred," Grossi added. Beyond the level of damage done to Fordow's underground enrichment halls, one of the biggest open questions is the status of its stock of enriched uranium, particularly its more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, a short step from the roughly 90% that is weapons grade. That is enough, if enriched further, for nine nuclear weapons, according to an IAEA yardstick, though Iran says its intentions are peaceful and it does not seek atom bombs. Iran did, however, inform the IAEA on June 13 that it would take "special measures" to protect its nuclear materials and equipment that are under so-called IAEA safeguards, the oversight provided for by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Grossi said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
