UN Nuclear Chief Reports No Repair Activity on Damaged Iranian Nuclear Facilities

UNITED NATIONS — The head of the United Nation's nuclear agency reported on Tuesday that there has been no indication Iran has tried to repair or reconstruct its nuclear facilities damaged in U.S. and Israeli military strikes over the past two years.

During a UN Security Council meeting, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi stated that since June 2025, the agency has not identified any activity to repair or rebuild any of the facilities damaged in military attacks. Grossi urged Iran to grant inspectors access to all nuclear sites, including those affected by the military strikes. The IAEA has been unable to verify the status of Iran's stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium following U.S. bombings last year.

The IAEA maintains that Iran possesses a stockpile of 440.9 kilograms, or 972 pounds, of uranium enriched up to 60% purity. This level is a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

President Donald Trump has previously stated that a major reason for the U.S. entering into conflict with Iran on February 28 was to deny Tehran the ability to develop nuclear weapons. Trump has maintained that U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025 obliterated the country's atomic program. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Grossi's remarks.

The UN Security Council meeting was convened by Bahrain, Denmark, Latvia, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The session followed the IAEA's referral of Iran to the Security Council for failing to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations. Russia and China, both allies of Iran, attempted unsuccessfully to prevent the meeting from taking place.

Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran is legally bound to declare all nuclear material and activities and to allow IAEA inspectors to verify that materials are not diverted from peaceful uses. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is strictly peaceful.

During the meeting, Iran's UN deputy ambassador Gholamhossein Darzi criticized the council for its silence following the U.S.-Israeli attacks, denouncing what he termed wars of aggression against Iran and accusing the U.S. of committing war crimes. Darzi did not address the IAEA's unanswered questions or the demand to return inspectors, asserting instead that Israel possesses nuclear weapons while council concerns focus on the absence of inspectors in Iran. Israel has never officially confirmed possessing nuclear weapons.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz responded by calling Iran a brutal dictatorship and criticized the Iranian representative for failing to provide explanations regarding the country's safeguard obligations.

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