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Investing.com -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported Tuesday that it has identified "direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz" following recent Israeli strikes on Iran.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the IAEA noted that this assessment was based on "continued analysis of high resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday’s attacks." The agency added there was "no change to report" at Iran’s Esfahan and Fordow nuclear facilities.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi previously stated that damage to above-ground structures at the Natanz enrichment facility has resulted in localized radiological contamination, while noting that the plant’s vast underground halls had not been breached. The heavily-fortified Fordow enrichment site shows no sign of damage, according to Grossi.
The ongoing conflict has significantly complicated the IAEA’s ability to monitor Iran’s stockpile of highly-enriched uranium, which could potentially be converted into fuel for 10 nuclear warheads. Before the attacks began, IAEA inspectors were conducting more than one visit daily to Iranian nuclear sites, tracking uranium inventories down to gram levels.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told state television over the weekend that Iran has implemented "special measures" to protect its uranium stockpiles and enrichment machinery. "We will no longer cooperate with the agency as we did before," Gharibabadi said.
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