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First Post
a day ago
- Politics
- First Post
IAEA confirms internal contamination after Israel airstrikes partially destroy Natanz nuclear facility
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi confirmed that contamination had been detected inside Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, following the Israeli strikes as tensions between the two nations escalate read more As the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that contamination had been detected inside the Natanz nuclear facility, following Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facility . The confirmation was delivered by IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi during his briefing to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Grossi noted that soon after the Israeli attack, Iran's Nuclear Regulatory Authority shared the status of the nuclear facility with the international body. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD IAEA leader has stated that at present, only the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant site has been attacked. It is pertinent to note that the facility contained a Fuel Enrichment Plant and a Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. Grossi confirms the damage to the nuclear plant. In his briefing, Grossi stated that at the Natanz nuclear facility , the above-ground part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, where Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60% U-235, has been destroyed. '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,' the IAEA director said in the statement. 'The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact to the population or the environment from this event.' 'However, 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 added. Iran takes Israel to the UNSC After the UNSC meeting, Amir Saeid Iravani, Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations, slammed Israel's latest attack while speaking to the reporters. 'During the meeting, I made the following key points clear: We unequivocally and forcefully condemn Israel's lawful and terrorist military aggression against Iran. Israel, the loudest and most violent regime in the world, committed these barbaric attacks with full intelligence, operational and political backing of the United States government,' Iravani told reporters after the UNSC meeting. 'Iran has also been the victim of systematic assassination of senior officials, scientists and civilians, a campaign of targeted murder that was latest and most basic principles of humanity. So far, 78 Iranians have been killed and more than 320 injured, the vast majority of them civilians, including women and children.' 'Let me be clear, Israel attacked safeguarded nuclear sites. This was a reckless criminal act that could have created a radiological catastrophe beyond Iran's borders. Such an attack is not only a violation of the UN Charter, the status of the IAEA under its Proliferation Treaty, but it is a direct threat to regional and global peace,' he furthered. Throughout Friday, both sides hurled missiles at each other , causing significant damage in each other's territories, and raising concerns about a wider West Asia conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
United News of India
a day ago
- Politics
- United News of India
IAEA chief calls for maximum restraint after Israeli attacks on Iran
United Nations, June 14 (UNI) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi on Friday called for maximum restraint after Israeli attacks on Iran, including on nuclear facilities. "I reiterate that any military action that jeopardizes the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region and beyond," Grossi told an emergency meeting of the Security Council. Nuclear facilities must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances, to prevent harm both to people and the environment. Such attacks have profound implications for nuclear safety, security and safeguards, as well as for regional and international peace and security, he said. Any armed attack on, or threat against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of the principles of the UN Charter, international law and the IAEA Statute, said Grossi, citing IAEA resolutions. The IAEA continues to monitor the situation closely, he said. The agency's Incident and Emergency Center has maintained continuous contact with Iranian authorities from the onset of the attack, regularly confirming the status of the facilities. Additionally, the IAEA has established a task force to monitor the situation closely over the next few days, said Grossi. The IAEA stands ready to provide technical assistance, and remains committed to its nuclear safety, security and safeguards mandate in all circumstances, he said. Despite the current military actions and heightened tensions, it is clear that the only sustainable path forward -- for Iran, Israel, the entire region and the international community -- is one grounded in dialogue and diplomacy to ensure peace, stability and cooperation, he said. The IAEA remains a unique and vital forum for dialogue, especially now, said Grossi. The IAEA has been in permanent contact with the Iran Nuclear Regulatory Authority to ascertain the status of relevant nuclear facilities and to assess any broader impacts on nuclear safety and security, said Grossi. Iran has confirmed that only the Natanz site, which contains the Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, has been attacked in Friday's strikes. The above-ground part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, where Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60 percent U-235, has been destroyed. Electricity infrastructure at the facility has been destroyed, he said. 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, he added. The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact to the population or the environment from this event, said Grossi. There is radiological and chemical contamination inside the facilities in Natanz due to the impacts. The type of radiation present inside the facility -- primarily alpha particles -- is manageable with appropriate radiation protection measures, he added. At present, the Iranian authorities are informing the IAEA of attacks on the other facilities, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant; and Esfahan site, where a fuel plate fabrication plant, a fuel manufacturing plant, a uranium conversion facility and an enriched uranium dioxide powder plant are located, he said. UNI XINHUA ARN
India.com
2 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Is Natanz Iran's 'Kairana Hill'? Israel targeted it first because..., aim is to break nuclear...
Is Natanz Iran's ' Kairana Hill'? Israel targeted it first because…, aim is to break nuclear… Tehran: The Natanz nuclear plant in Iran and the recent developments around it have become a crucial issue in Middle East geopolitics and have made headlines across the world. In recent years, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have repeatedly targeted the site, which it considers the center of Tehran's nuclear weapons program. Most of the time, Natanz has been compared with 'Kirana Hills,' which is near the Sargodha Airbase in Pakistan's Punjab province. Islamabad is believed to store its nuclear weapons at this site. Notably, the same site was also attacked by the Indian Armed Forces during Operation Sindoor. Let us understand the situation at Natanz, Israel's attacks, and the comparison between Iran and Pakistan's nuclear programs. Natanz And Its Important Natanz is an area located in Iran's Isfahan province where its major nuclear plants are established. It is the center of the Middle East country's uranium enrichment program. The facility is divided into two parts. Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP): An underground facility with a capacity to house around 50,000 centrifuges. Currently, it houses around 14,000 centrifuges, of which 11,000 are active. These are enriching uranium with a purity of up to 5 percent. Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP): This facility is located above the ground and has a few hundred centrifuges that enrich uranium up to 60percent purity, close to 90 percent purity which is needed for making a nuclear weapon. Is Natanz 'Kairana Hill'? Notably, there is no official place called 'Kairana Hill' which is associated with Iran's nuclear program. It is just a comparison to Pakistan's nuclear weapon storage. It may refer to the geographical location the hills surrounding Natanz or its strategic location. Natanz is located near the Zagros Mountains, and the underground structure is built to protect it from air strikes. A group of people compare the site to Pakistan's Kahuta plant, called 'Kairana Hill' in the 1980s, when Islamabad was developing its nuclear weapons. Israel's Attacks And Natanz It is worth noting that Israel has long considered Iran's nuclear program a big threat to itself. The country believes that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, which it can use against it. That is the reason why Tel Aviv has targeted Natanz many times. Cyber-attack 2010: Israel and the US created a cyber virus and termed it – 'Stuxnet'. The virus damaged the centrifuges at Natanz. This attack set back Iran's nuclear program by 18 months to two years. Explosions in 2020: A mysterious fire that broke out in Natanz, which is termed by Iran as an attack by Israel. It damaged centrifuge production. Blackout in 2021: Natanz's power supply was targeted in another attack, which Iran termed as 'nuclear terrorism'. Attacks in 2024 and 2025: In April last year, Tel Aviv targeted air defence systems near Natanz. In June this year, IDF launched a direct attack on the site in what it describes as a 'pre-emptive strike' to stop Iran's nuclear program. This attack killed several senior officials. The aim of these attacks is to weaken Iran's nuclear program and prevent it from making nuclear weapons. Iran and Israel: A hotbed of tension Iran's nuclear program is the primary source of conflict with Israel. Israel views Iran's nuclear ambitions as an existential threat, while Iran maintains its program is for peaceful purposes and vows retaliation against any Israeli aggression. A significant Israeli attack on Natanz in 2025, resulting in casualties among Iranian officials, temporarily hampered Iran's nuclear development. However, analysts suggest that Iran's advanced technology and decentralised infrastructure make complete dismantlement of the program unlikely. Natanz, a critical site for Iran's nuclear activities, is strategically significant, as evidenced by its alternative name, 'Kairana Hill.'While Israeli attacks have hampered Iran's nuclear progress, they haven't achieved complete cessation.
