Iran “enrichment capabilities still exit”

Brussels 18.06.2025 A top IDF official acknowledged for the first time that while Israel has destroyed Natanz’s above-ground nuclear facilities, the military is unsure whether it succeeded in destroying Iran’s uranium-enriching centrifuge fleet at the Natanz underground facility. (Image: illustration).

Previously the IDF had said that it had succeeded in striking and destroying both the above-ground and specifically also the underground Natanz nuclear sites, including the crucial centrifuge fleet.

However, satellite footage analyzed by the Institute for Science and International Security had already cast doubt on the claims of destroying the Natanz underground facility, while confirming the above-ground destruction.

Then on Monday, June 16, the IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told the IAEA Board of Governors that Israel had failed to destroy Iran’s uranium-enriching centrifuge fleet at the underground facility at Natanz.

“Within the Natanz facility there is both radiological and chemical contamination. Considering the type of nuclear material at this facility, it is possible that uranium isotopes contained in uranium hexafluoride, uranyl fluoride and hydrogen fluoride are dispersed inside the facility. The radiation, primarily consisting of alpha particles, poses a significant danger if uranium is inhaled or ingested. However, this risk can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures, such as using respiratory protection devices while inside the affected facilities. The main concern inside the facility is the chemical toxicity of the uranium hexafluoride and the fluoride compounds generated at the contact with water.”

“There has been a clear setback, but the enrichment capabilities still exit.” UN chief nuclear inspector Rafael Grossi shares a detailed overview of the extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear program. pic.twitter.com/IEbm8GjncD

— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) June 17, 2025

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

During his interview to the CNN Grossi also said that the Agency reported they did not have “any proof of a systematic effort (by Iran) to move toward a nuclear weapon”.

❗️❗️❗️ Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi admits that Iran was not going to make a nuclear weapon.

"What we reported was that we did not have any proof of a systematic effort (by Iran) to move toward a nuclear weapon". pic.twitter.com/4MKN0OqiLb

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) June 18, 2025