IAEA initiates extraordinary meeting of Board of Governors in response to US missile strike on Iran

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi announced an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Directors for 23 June to discuss the situation in the Middle East caused by US missile strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran - Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

Given the emergency situation in Iran, I am convening an emergency meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors for tomorrow [23 June]," he wrote.

At the same time, the international agency notes: no increase in the radiation background outside the sites after the strikes.

Saudi Arabia's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Agency has also not detected an increase in radiation background in the Gulf countries. NASA, meanwhile, noticed a significant release of heat near the Fordow facility about 30 minutes before Trump's announcement of the attack.

Israel has also been striking Iran's nuclear facilities since 13 June. Shortly after the first strikes, Tehran told the IAEA that radiation levels at the Natanz nuclear facility were not exceeded after the Israeli strikes. Subsequently, the agency did not rule out damage to all centrifuges at Natanz as a result of one of the strikes and reported a slight excess of radioactive background inside the protective perimeter. The threat to the population, according to the IAEA assessment, there was no threat to the population at that time.

Recall, on the night of 21-22 June: the US launched airstrikes on three sites in Iran - Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan - using MOP bombs and Tomahawk missiles. President Donald Trump called it a "military success" and threatened more strikes if Iran retaliated with aggression. Iran responded with drone missile strikes on Israel, saying the US moves would have long-term consequences and Tehran was reserving all options for defence.