Politics Israel attacks routes to Iran's Fordo nuclear facility
According to Israel's army, it has attacked access routes to Iran's Fordo nuclear facility. The aim was to block them. The Israeli military did not initially provide any further details.
23.06.2025, 14:04
SDA
US forces had recently attacked the well-protected, underground uranium enrichment facility with bunker-busting bombs. According to Israel, the well-protected facility near the city of Ghom was the most important remaining target when it comes to preventing the construction of an Iranian nuclear weapon.
Iranian media report renewed attack on Fordo
Iranian media had previously reported, citing authorities, that the heavily fortified nuclear facility had once again been the target of an airstrike. It remained unclear who carried out the attack. When asked, Israel's army initially did not comment on whether the facility itself had also been hit.
The USA bombed the facility, which is hidden deep inside a mountain, on Sunday night. The US attack on Sunday night is said to have caused no major damage, according to a report by the Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. US President Donald Trump, however, had said that it had been destroyed.
IAEA chief: Fordo nuclear facility probably badly damaged
The UN nuclear watchdogs also believe that the underground uranium enrichment plant was probably severely damaged by the use of massive US bombs. This was stated by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, in an initial analysis.
"In view of the explosive charge used and the extreme sensitivity to vibration of the centrifuges, considerable damage is to be expected," Grossi said at an emergency meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.
IAEA demands clarity on whereabouts of uranium in Iran
Grossi also demanded clarity from Iran on the whereabouts of nuclear material. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had already announced protective measures for nuclear material and nuclear equipment before the Israeli and US attacks, he said. The transport of nuclear materials must be reported to the IAEA in accordance with the binding inspection agreement between the nuclear authority and Iran, the IAEA Director General emphasized.
According to an IAEA report, Iran possesses, among other things, more than 400 kilograms of uranium with a purity level of 60 percent, which is almost suitable for weapons. According to diplomats, this could be used to produce several nuclear weapons if the material were enriched even further to 90 degrees.
Tehran insists that it does not want to build nuclear weapons. However, there has recently been growing concern in many countries that the Islamic Republic could become increasingly capable of building nuclear weapons.
It is now necessary for IAEA inspectors to verify the stocks of 60 percent uranium in Iran, said Grossi. The uranium had previously been produced in enrichment plants in Natans and Fordo.
