Iran Developed New Underground Nuclear Enrichment Facility In Isfahan? IAEA Clueless About Status

The United States and Israel waged a war against Iran over its nuclear enrichment, which was claimed to be close to weapon-grade. The argument was used during both the 12-day war in June last year and in the ongoing war. Each time, US President Donald Trump claimed to have decimated Tehran's nuke capabilities. However, a new report suggests Iran still has a facility in Isfahan, arguably the most hit site, regarding which the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has no clue.

Rafael Grossi, the IAEA director general, has said that there are "many questions" about how advanced the facility is.

While speaking to the media in Washington, before talks with the Trump administration officials, he said, "It is underground, but we haven't visited it yet."

He added that Tehran had informed the UN nuclear watchdog about the facility, and he was set to inspect the site later that month. Still, the US and Israel launched Operation Midnight Hammer, the 12-day war, against Iran in June last year.

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The facility was struck at the beginning of the war, so the inspection was cancelled, and Grossi said, the agency does not know "whether it is simply an empty hall" or hosts concrete pads awaiting the installation of centrifuges or whether some centrifuges had been installed.

"There are many questions that we will only elucidate when we are able to go back," he said.

The revelation comes days after the UN watchdog had said that Iran had enriched uranium to up to 60 per cent purity, a short step from weapons-grade. He had added that it was stored in a tunnel complex at Isfahan and is probably still there.

Meanwhile, attacks on Iranian facilities continue as a projectile hit an area near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant on Tuesday ⁠evening. The IAEA, however, said that it caused no damage or injuries.

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On March 3, the nuclear watchdog confirmed that the entrances to Iran's underground and previously bombed uranium-enrichment facility at ⁠Natanz was struck in the US-Israeli military attacks.

(With Reuters inputs)