IAEA chief says no sign Iran nuclear sites hit, urges restraint
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday there was no indication that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been damaged.
“Regarding the status of the nuclear installations in Iran, up to now, we have no indication that any of the nuclear installations, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the Tehran Research Reactor or other nuclear fuel cycle facilities have been damaged or hit,” Grossi said.
He added that efforts to contact Iranian nuclear regulatory authorities were ongoing, “with no response so far,” and said he hoped an “indispensable channel of communication can be reestablished as soon as possible.”
Grossi reiterated his call for “maximum restraint to avoid further escalation,” adding: “We must return to diplomacy and negotiations.”
“So far, no elevation of radiation levels above the usual background levels has been detected in countries bordering Iran,” Grossi said. “The situation today is very concerning, we cannot rule out a possible radiological release with serious consequences, including the necessity to evacuate areas as large or larger than major cities,” he added.
