Centrifuges at Iranian Facility Rendered Inoperable After U.S. Strikes

The U.N. nuclear watchdog has reported that the centrifuges at Iran's Fordo facility are no longer operational following a U.S. military attack, indicating severe damage from bunker-buster bombs.

In a significant escalation in military action, the Fordo uranium enrichment plant in Iran has sustained irreparable damages, rendering its centrifuges "no longer operational," according to Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Speaking to Radio France Internationale, Grossi detailed the aftermath of the U.S. airstrike on the facility, which involved sophisticated bunker-buster bombs.

Evaluating the extent of the damage exclusively through satellite imagery presents challenges; however, Grossi expressed confidence in the conclusions drawn from the strike’s intensity. "Given the power of the bombs and the technical characteristics of the plant, we can assert that significant physical damage has occurred," he stated. Centrifuges, which play a critical role in uranium enrichment, demand extraordinary precision and can succumb to severe vibrations.

“There was no escaping significant physical damage," Grossi noted, emphasizing the technicalities that lead to this premature decommission of the centrifuges. As of now, the implications of this damage on Iran's nuclear capabilities remain to be seen. This situation continues to develop, warranting close observation from international stakeholders and the global community.

With escalating tensions, the future of nuclear negotiations with Iran remains uncertain as the world watches these events unfold.