IAEA provides updates on Iran nuclear facilities
Today, the American Nuclear Society issued a press release joining the International Atomic Energy Agency’s calls for maximum military restraint around nuclear power plants and civilian research reactors.
This press release comes as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East primarily involving Iran, Israel, and the United States continues to rapidly evolve and intensify. As is the case with many armed conflicts, the confirmation of each reported update from multiple—and often contradictory—sources comes with significant difficulties. However, IAEA reporting sheds significant light on the current state of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Hammer strikes: While the present conflict emerges from a complex geopolitical history, a useful place to begin in regard to the current status of Iranian nuclear facilities is June 2025. In that month, the U.S. launched Operation Midnight Hammer and carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities: the Natanz fuel enrichment plant, the Esfahan nuclear site, and the Fordow fuel enrichment plant. Vice President J. D. Vance characterized these strikes as “very narrowly tailored” to the objective of destroying Fordow and more broadly dismantling Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program.
Regarding the purpose of Iran’s nuclear program, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said, “While there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb, its large stockpile of near–weapons grade enriched uranium and refusal to grant my inspectors full access are cause for serious concern,” adding that “unless and until Iran assists the [IAEA] in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues, the Agency will not be in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.”
IAEA reporting on the 2025 Midnight Hammer strikes found that the aboveground part of the pilot fuel enrichment plant at Natanz was destroyed and that a loss of power may have caused more damage underground. At Esfahan, damage was confirmed at the site’s chemical laboratory, uranium conversion plant, Tehran reactor fuel manufacturing plant, and UF4 to enriched uranium metal processing facility. No damage was reported at Fordow.
Recently, strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have continued, with significant international attention paid to the targeting of Bushehr, Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant. Unit 1 at Bushehr is a 915-MWe VVER-1000 pressurized water reactor. It entered operation in 2013 and was built in partnership with Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom. Two other VVER-1000s are also planned for the site.
Current situation: On April 4, the IAEA stated that a projectile “struck close to the premises” of Bushehr, the fourth such incident in recent weeks. Iran also informed the IAEA that one of the site’s physical production workers was killed by a projectile fragment and that a building on site “was affected by shockwaves and fragments.” The IAEA added that “no increase in radiation levels was reported.”
A previous strike on Bushehr took place on March 18 when, according to the IAEA, “a structure about 350 meters from the reactor was hit and destroyed.” Over the course of these strikes, numerous sources have reported that many of the Rosatom staffers who operate Bushehr have been evacuated, though these reports have not been confirmed by the IAEA.
The IAEA has also reported on attacks at two other Iranian nuclear facilities, both of which took place on March 27:
Iran’s heavy water production plant at Khondab sustained severe damage and is no longer operational. While the facility is an important part of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, according to the IAEA, it “contains no declared nuclear material.” This report has been confirmed by IAEA analysis of satellite imagery.
The Shahid Rezayee Nejad Yellow Cake Production Facility (also known as Ardakan) was attacked, according to Iranian reports. No off-site radiation level increases have been reported, and the IAEA is investigating the incident.
In response to the latest strikes, Grossi called for adherence to the IAEA’s Seven Indispensable Pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during a conflict. Those pillars are:
The physical integrity of facilities—whether it is the reactors, fuel ponds, or radioactive waste stores—must be maintained.
All safety and security systems and equipment must be fully functional at all times.
The operating staff must be able to fulfill their safety and security duties and have the capacity to make decisions free of undue pressure.
There must be a secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites.
There must be uninterrupted logistical supply chains and transportation to and from the sites.
There must be effective on-site and off-site radiation monitoring systems and emergency preparedness and response measures.
There must be reliable communication with the regulator and others.
As of now, the conflict continues and has spread to affect numerous Gulf states. Though the United States has not officially declared war, it continues to pursue “major combat operations” through Operation Epic Fury. An April 1 statement from the White House declared that mission objectives have “from day one” included ensuring that Iran “never acquires a nuclear weapon."
Before this latest round of strikes, Grossi addressed the IAEA Board of Governors on March 2 on the state of the conflict. There, he talked about the difficult road ahead, saying, “Diplomacy is hard, but it is never impossible. Nuclear diplomacy is even harder, but it is never impossible. It is not a matter of if, but of when, we will again gather at that diplomatic table—we simply must do so as quickly as possible.”
