AIEA Expresses Concern Over Secret Iranian Uranium Enrichment Site

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed growing concern over a secret underground uranium enrichment site in Isfahan, Iran, announced by Tehran last year but still inaccessible to agency inspectors. According to a confidential report obtained by AFP, the IAEA has urged Iran to take "gradual measures" to allow inspectors to access key nuclear facilities again. This development has raised concerns about the agency's ability to monitor and verify Iranian nuclear activities.

The IAEA report stated that it still lacks essential information about the Isfahan site, including its exact location and nuclear safeguards status. Consequently, it is currently impossible to determine if the site contains nuclear materials, fueling concerns about Iran's nuclear program. The agency's director-general, Rafael Grossi, has called on Iran to consider technical and gradual measures to allow inspectors to return to the country.

The IAEA has not had access to Iranian nuclear facilities since June 2025, following Israeli and US airstrikes on certain sites. The agency has repeatedly requested access to these facilities, particularly after the February 28 war, which damaged some nuclear installations. In its report, the IAEA emphasized the importance of conducting verification activities in Iran without further delay.

The report highlighted the correspondence between the IAEA and Iran in recent weeks, during which inspectors were allowed to visit the Bushehr nuclear power plant in September but were denied access to other facilities. The IAEA acknowledged that military attacks on Iranian nuclear sites have created an unprecedented situation, but the lack of cooperation remains a significant concern.

The IAEA expressed concern that it cannot conclude that declared nuclear materials in Iran have not been diverted for non-civilian nuclear activities. The agency emphasized that the lack of information on nuclear materials and access to facilities for verification constitutes a major proliferation concern that needs to be addressed urgently.

In September, the IAEA council referred Iran's nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council due to its non-compliance with nuclear declaration obligations, marking the first time in 20 years that Iran has faced such action. Prior to the June 2025 airstrikes, the IAEA estimated that Iran had approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, close to the 90% required for a nuclear bomb.

Iran has consistently denied seeking to develop a nuclear bomb. The IAEA's concerns come as the agency seeks to verify Iranian nuclear activities and ensure compliance with international nuclear safeguards. The situation remains a pressing issue, with the IAEA pushing for increased cooperation and access to Iranian nuclear facilities to alleviate concerns about the country's nuclear program.

Key points

• The IAEA has raised concerns about a secret underground uranium enrichment site in Iran's Isfahan, which Tehran has not allowed agency inspectors to access.
• The agency has urged Iran to take "gradual measures" to allow inspectors to access key nuclear facilities again.
• The IAEA's concerns come as the agency seeks to verify Iranian nuclear activities and ensure compliance with international nuclear safeguards.