In a statement on the social platform X, the IAEA’s head Rafael Mariano Grossi was quoted as saying: “The IAEA is closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran. … The Agency is in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels. We are also in contact with our inspectors in the country.”
Archiv: Natanz (city / nuclear site / uranium enrichment facility / Iran)
Retaliatory spiral in Middle East must end, says UN chief after reported strikes on Iran
Following reports of alleged Israeli strikes inside Iran near a nuclear power station early Friday, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a new appeal to all parties to “stop the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East”.
“The Secretary-General condemns any act of retaliation and appeals to the international community to work together to prevent any further development that could lead to devastating consequences for the entire region and beyond,” he said in a statement issued by his Office.
Iran Map Reveals How Close Israeli Strikes Were To Hitting Nuclear Sites
The Natanz uranium enrichment plant is located close to the region where the strikes are understood to have taken place.
A separate uranium conversion plant is located in Zerdenjan, a southwestern region of Isfahan. The site has been previously targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage attacks.
Long-Planned and Bigger Than Thought: Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Program
In addition, some American and Israeli officials, and international security analysts, say that Iran may believe that President Trump will lose the November election and that his presumptive Democratic rival, Joseph R. Biden Jr., will want to resurrect some form of the negotiated settlement that the Obama administration reached with Tehran five years ago next week.
Israel, U.S Developing Shared Strategy to Harm Iran’s Nuclear Facilities, Officials Tell NYT
The Times also said that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo maintains a close relationship with Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, making it unlikely that Pompeo was unaware of the plan to attack the Natanz nuclear facility – if it was indeed an Israeli-engineered operation.