The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that no increase in radiation levels outside the targeted locations has been recorded so far following US airstrikes on Iran’s Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear facilities.
“The IAEA can confirm that following the attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran – including Fordow – no increase in radiation levels outside the affected locations has been reported so far,” the agency said on social media. It added that it would provide additional assessments as more information becomes available.
At the same time, Iranian authorities have sought to reassure the public, saying there is no threat to the health of the population.
Reza Kardan, deputy director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and head of the National Center for Nuclear Systems Safety, said that “no trace of radioactive contamination has been observed outside the attacked locations.”
“Plans were made in advance and measures were taken to protect the safety and health of citizens. Despite the criminal act of this morning’s attack on nuclear facilities, thanks to these measures, no contamination was recorded,” Kardan told Iran’s official IRNA news agency.
“Citizens can continue to live normally in the areas around these sites without any concerns,” he added.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke triumphantly about the attacks, with Trump claiming that “Iran’s nuclear capacity has been completely destroyed.” However, the reality is far more complex.
Iran’s largest facilities, such as Fordow, a key uranium enrichment site, suffered only superficial damage, according to Iranian officials. Initial reports from Iran and the Gulf region also indicate that there was no leakage of radioactive material, suggesting that the enriched uranium stockpile was relocated before the attacks.
Even if the three targets are completely destroyed, Iran’s knowledge and capacity to enrich uranium remain, allowing Tehran to resume its nuclear program relatively quickly. There is also the possibility that secret facilities that were not affected by the attacks exist.
However, if the US version that the attacks were a “spectacular military success” is confirmed, Iran’s nuclear program could be slowed for months, if not years.
