'Given Power Of These Bombs': IAEA Chief Says Iran's Uranium Centrifuges Disable After US Strikes
Grossi said the damage was a result of the United States dropping 'bunker busters' on key Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities last week
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, on Thursday said that Iran's uranium-enriching centrifuges are likely 'no longer operational" following US airstrikes.
Grossi said the damage was a result of the United States dropping 'bunker busters' on key Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities.
Last week, American B-2 stealth bombers struck two of the sites using GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, while a guided missile submarine launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at the third facility.
'We can't fully assess, and no one can say exactly what the extent of the damage is. But we already know that, given the power of those weapons and the technical characteristics of a centrifuge, we know that these centrifuges are no longer operational," Grossi told French broadcaster, Radio France Internationale.
'These are machines with delicate positioning—there are rotors, there are parts—so the damage must have been total," he added.
The UN nuclear chief also said that Iran's nuclear programme had suffered 'enormous damage," although he stopped short of backing US President Donald Trump's claim that Iran's nuclear sites had been 'obliterated."
'I think annihilated is too much," he said. 'The attacks resulted in significant physical damage to Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, where Iran concentrated most activities related to uranium enrichment and conversion."
Grossi noted that while these three sites had taken major hits, 'there are other nuclear sites in Iran that were not affected." He added, 'I know there are many assessments (the reference was to Trump's claim) but to what degree there is annihilation or total destruction, I can only tell you… there is very considerable damage."
The military campaign comes after Israel launched an unprecedented air assault on June 13, targeting Iranian nuclear sites, key scientists, and senior military leaders. Israel's goal, reportedly, is to halt what it views as Iran's progress towards building nuclear weapons—though Tehran continues to insist its programme is for peaceful, civilian purposes.
US President Donald Trump had spent weeks trying to negotiate a new nuclear agreement with Tehran after withdrawing from the earlier deal during his first term in 2018. However, he eventually chose to authorise military action.
The US operation was extensive, involving more than 125 aircraft, including stealth bombers, fighter jets, aerial refuelling tankers, and a guided missile submarine.
(With inputs from agencies)
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