U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi revealed on Thursday that Iran’s new uranium enrichment facility is located in Isfahan, one of the country’s largest nuclear sites.
This disclosure comes in the wake of Iran’s announcement—made just before Israel launched airstrikes against Iranian targets last Friday—that it had constructed a new enrichment plant. However, Tehran did not initially specify its location.
The move was part of Iran’s reaction to a resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, which accused Iran of breaching nuclear non-proliferation obligations. This includes its failure to explain uranium traces found at undeclared sites.
Grossi confirmed that the IAEA had planned an immediate inspection of the new Isfahan facility, but the visit was postponed due to the Israeli strikes. “The inspection had to be postponed, we hope temporarily,” he said.
Isfahan’s nuclear complex is known for housing the Uranium Conversion Facility, which was among four buildings reportedly damaged by Israeli strikes. This facility converts raw uranium into a form usable in centrifuges for enrichment.
While some above-ground facilities were hit, Grossi noted that “underground spaces” at Isfahan—where much of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is believed to be stored—do not appear to have been affected. The IAEA, however, has not been able to confirm the status of the facility due to lack of access since the attacks.