IAEA Warns of Underground Nuclear Site and Blocked Inspections in Iran

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed profound concern in a confidential report regarding a clandestine nuclear facility in Isfahan, Iran, according to documents reviewed by international media. The agency stated that Tehran declared an underground uranium enrichment facility at the site but has since repeatedly blocked inspectors from accessing it.

The IAEA reported that it remains uncertain about the exact location of the enrichment site, whether it was constructed for defensive purposes, or if it houses nuclear material. Iran notified the agency of the facility on June 12, 2025. Despite this declaration, authorities have barred inspectors from returning to nuclear sites targeted by joint US and Israeli strikes during Operation "Am Kalavi" in June of last year.

International media outlets noted that those previous airstrikes destroyed or severely damaged other key enrichment facilities forming the backbone of the Iranian nuclear program. According to diplomats, the facility is believed to be hidden within a network of tunnels in Isfahan, though a senior diplomat confirmed that its precise coordinates and purpose remain unknown.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated in March that the agency estimates a significant portion of Iran's highest-grade enriched uranium is currently stored within the Isfahan tunnel complex. The report reiterated demands for Tehran to disclose the status of its enrichment infrastructure and stockpiles, including near-weapons-grade materials.

The agency stressed that the lack of information and verification access poses a grave nuclear non-proliferation concern that must be urgently addressed. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for targeting an American radar installation in Bahrain in retaliation for a US strike in the southern Iranian port city of Sirik.

US President Donald Trump addressed regional tensions on social media, asserting that Washington does not require an agreement with Tehran. Trump stated that the US holds hundreds of billions of dollars in Iranian funds and controls key maritime chokepoints, adding that he instructed Vice President JD Vance to focus on domestic governance and combating crime in Democratic-led cities.