IAEA: Iran's New Uranium Enrichment Facility Located in Isfahan

Grossi Says "Coincidentally Confirmed the Day Before the Military Operation"

On June 19 (local time), Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that the new uranium enrichment facility recently mentioned by Iran is located in Isfahan Province in central Iran.

Yonhap News Agency

According to Reuters, Director General Grossi said, "Coincidentally, an announcement regarding the new enrichment facility located in Isfahan was made the day before Israel launched its military operation. Initially, we planned to conduct an immediate inspection, but the inspection was postponed due to the start of Israel's military operation."

The enrichment facility he referred to is believed to be the one mentioned in a statement released by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran in strong opposition to the IAEA's adoption of a resolution on June 12, which cited Iran's non-compliance with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

At that time, the Iranian side asserted that the production of enriched uranium would increase significantly, describing it as a response to the "politically motivated resolution."

Director General Grossi did not specify the exact location of the facility within Isfahan, but described the scale of the nuclear facility at the site as "enormous."

Reuters reported that if this facility is indeed operational, it would become Iran's fourth uranium enrichment facility.

However, the IAEA has determined that the Natanz enrichment facility near Isfahan suffered significant damage following Israel's airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities on June 13.

Natanz, known as a key site of Iran's nuclear program, is located about 250 kilometers south of the capital Tehran and has been a location where highly enriched uranium, which could be used for nuclear weapons development, was produced.