The IAEA has denied the presence of nuclear materials at Iran's heavy-water plant
As a result of an attack during the armed conflict in the Middle East, a plant that supplied the Iranian nuclear program was put out of commission.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has officially confirmed significant damage to the facility located in the city of Khondab.
The agency’s experts conducted a thorough investigation to determine the actual state of affairs following the attack, which Tehran reported on March 27.
“Based on an independent analysis of satellite imagery and information about the facility, the IAEA has confirmed that the heavy water production plant in Khondab, which Iran reported was attacked on March 27, has sustained serious damage and is no longer operational,” the agency said in a statement.
Despite the significant scale of damage to industrial facilities, no threats of radiation contamination or leaks of hazardous substances have been detected so far.
Experts emphasize that the specific nature of this facility’s operations did not involve the permanent storage of fuel directly in the affected area.
An important detail in the international observers’ report was the confirmation of the safety situation from an environmental perspective.
The agency added that there are no declared nuclear materials at the facility, which minimizes risks to the civilian population in surrounding areas following the incident.
Heavy water production is a critical element for the operation of certain types of reactors that can be used to produce weapons-grade plutonium.
The shutdown of this plant in Khondab creates significant obstacles to the further development of the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions amid constant military pressure.
As a reminder, a shell struck the Bushehr NPP in Iran; the IAEA and Rosatom are calling for de-escalation.
A dispute has also arisen in the UN Security Council over Iran’s nuclear program.
