Full coverage· Security· Updated 13 Nov, 16:26

IAEA Report Warns of Unknowns at Iran's Isfahan Facility and Enriched Uranium

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed grave concern in a confidential report regarding an undeclared underground uranium enrichment facility in Isfahan, Iran. According to the report, obtained by Reuters, Iran declared the facility in June 2025 but has since denied UN inspectors access to the site and its design plans.

3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 13 Nov, 10:46

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IAEA Report Warns of Unknowns at Iran's Isfahan Facility and Enriched Uranium — Illustration by baba

What happened

01The IAEA expressed grave concern in a confidential report over an undeclared Iranian uranium enrichment facility in Isfahan.
02Iran declared the underground facility in June 2025 but has since denied IAEA inspectors access to the site.
03The IAEA does not know the precise location, status, or nuclear material content of the Isfahan facility.
04Diplomats believe the enrichment facility is located within an extensive underground tunnel network in Isfahan.
05IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi estimated in March that a significant amount of highly enriched uranium is stored there.
06Iran blocked access following a 12-day war in June 2025, when Israel and the United States bombed its nuclear sites.
07The IAEA warns that the lack of access and information regarding the facility raises serious nuclear proliferation concerns.

The IAEA stated that it does not know the precise location of the facility, its status, or whether it currently contains nuclear material. Diplomats believe the enrichment facility is located within an extensive underground tunnel network in Isfahan. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi estimated in March that a significant portion of Iran's highly enriched uranium is stored within this tunnel complex.

Iran's refusal to grant access follows a 12-day war in June 2025, during which Israel and the United States heavily bombed, damaged, or destroyed key enrichment facilities at the heart of Iran's nuclear program. The IAEA had scheduled an inspection of the Isfahan facility for June 13, 2025, but the bombing campaign, which began that same day, made the mission impossible. Since then, Iran has blocked inspectors from all attacked nuclear sites, leading the IAEA to warn of serious nuclear proliferation risks.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 13 Nov, 23:56

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