UN Nuclear Watchdog Seeks Access To Sites US Bombed, Iran Moves To Sever Ties

Last Updated:June 23, 2025, 20:46 IST

Citing the force of the explosives used by the US, Grossi said that vital equipment at the Fordow facility, particularly centrifuge machinery, may have been severely affected

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director-general of the Atomic Energy Agency. (AP photo)

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Monday called for urgent access to several Iranian nuclear sites hit by US airstrikes, while Iran has announced steps to suspend its cooperation with the agency.

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that inspectors must be allowed to assess the condition of nuclear facilities targeted in the US strikes. He warned that “very significant damage" was likely, especially to uranium enrichment infrastructure at Fordow.

Citing the force of the explosives used by the US, Grossi said that vital equipment at the Fordow facility, particularly centrifuge machinery, may have been severely affected.

The Fordow site is one of the nuclear-related facilities in Iran that are believed to have been struck, including locations in Isfahan and Natanz. US President Donald Trump, following the strikes on Sunday, claimed that the attacks had “obliterated" Iran’s nuclear capabilities. However, officials said it was still too early to measure the exact impact on Iran’s nuclear programme.

In response, Iran’s armed forces issued a strong warning on Monday, vowing to impose “serious, unpredictable consequences" on the US.

In a parallel move, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Tehran was ending all cooperation with the IAEA.

A day ago, Qalibaf had announced that lawmakers would introduce a bill to formalise the suspension of cooperation unless the agency guaranteed what he described as “professional and unbiased behaviour."

Qalibaf insisted Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons but criticised the IAEA for acting under political influence. “The world clearly saw that the Atomic Energy Agency has not fulfilled any of its obligations and has become a political tool," he had said.

The latest tensions come amid ongoing war between Iran and Israel. Eleven days after Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites began, Iran’s health ministry reported over 400 deaths. In contrast, official figures in Israel say 24 people have been killed in Iranian strikes.

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