UN nuclear watchdog head Rafael Grossi said on Friday that nuclear facilities "must never be attacked" and called "on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation" following Israeli strikes on Iran.
"This development is deeply concerning... I reiterate that any military action that jeopardises the safety and security of nuclear facilities risks grave consequences for the people of Iran, the region, and beyond," Grossi, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a statement to board members.
The head of IAEA has expressed his willingness to travel to Iran as soon as possible to assess the current situation and ensure the safety, security, and non-proliferation of nuclear materials in the country.
"I have informed the relevant authorities of my readiness to visit at the earliest opportunity," he said.
Details regarding the extent of the damage at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility remain unclear. It is not yet known which specific parts of the site were affected. Natanz houses a major underground uranium enrichment facility, along with a smaller, above-ground pilot plant.
Iran is currently enriching uranium at the pilot plant to levels of up to 60% purity—just below the 90% typically considered weapons-grade. However, the volume produced at this facility is less than that at Iran’s Fordow site, a heavily fortified facility built deep inside a mountain. Military analysts have noted that Fordow would be far more difficult for Israel to target and destroy in any potential airstrike.
Amid ongoing military confrontations and rising regional tensions, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized the urgent need for diplomacy.
"Despite the current military actions and heightened tensions, it is clear that the only sustainable path forward—for Iran, Israel, the region, and the broader international community—is through dialogue and diplomacy to secure peace, stability, and cooperation," Grossi stated.