Is Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility facing radiation danger? IAEA boss sounds alarm over worst fears

This handout satellite image released by Maxar Technologies on June 15, 2025, shows new vehicle tracks and dirt piles over underground centrifuge buildings at Natanz enrichment facility, southeast of Tehran after airstrikes on June 15, 2025. The Israeli military said early June 16 that it was striking surface-to-surface missile sites in Iran, its latest move in three days of escalating conflict between the rival states. (AFP)

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, warned on Monday that there is a potential risk of radiological and chemical contamination inside Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment facility following recent Israeli airstrikes. However, radiation levels outside the facility remain normal, posing no immediate threat to the surrounding population or environment.

Speaking during an emergency session of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna—convened at Russia’s request to address Israel’s military actions targeting Iranian nuclear sites—Grossi stressed that while external radiation levels have not changed, there are serious concerns regarding internal exposure risks.

According to Grossi, uranium hexafluoride—a highly reactive and hazardous gas used during the uranium enrichment process—is present within the facility and could pose a serious health threat if inhaled or ingested. This substance, formed by combining uranium with fluorine, is known to be corrosive, capable of causing severe chemical burns, and potentially lethal when inhaled. He emphasized that while protective measures, such as respiratory equipment, can manage the danger effectively, the situation remains delicate.

“The radiation levels outside the Natanz site remain stable and within normal limits,” Grossi confirmed, adding that there is currently no indication of off-site contamination that could impact public health or the environment.

He also noted that no new damage has been observed at either the Natanz or Isfahan nuclear facilities since Saturday’s reported strikes.

Grossi stressed the urgent need for the IAEA to receive consistent and timely technical updates from Iran regarding the status of its nuclear sites. Without access to this information, he said, the agency cannot properly evaluate the radiological risks or offer necessary support.

IAEA inspectors will continue to remain in Iran and will resume on-site inspections “as soon as safety conditions permit,” he stated.

Grossi also issued a broader warning, saying that continued military escalation in the region not only endangers lives but also heightens the risk of radiological incidents with far-reaching consequences. Such developments, he warned, could hinder diplomatic progress and delay vital efforts to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons capabilities.

Satellite photos analysed by The Associated Press show extensive damage at Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz. The images captured Saturday by Planet Labs PBC show multiple buildings damaged or destroyed. The structures hit include buildings identified by experts as supplying power to the facility.

(With inputs from AP)