Empty hall or nuclear plant, what's happening at the Isfahan site? Questions raised about Iran's nuclear activities

News Topical, Digital Desk : A new nuclear facility in Isfahan, Iran, remains a source of considerable suspense. Even the United Nations' atomic energy agency is unsure whether the site is operational or merely an empty hall.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said there are many questions about the site that will only be answered once inspectors are allowed to visit. He explained that the site is underground, but the agency has not yet been able to visit it directly.

Uncertainty increased due to lack of inspection

Iran informed the IAEA about this new site in June 2025. Inspectors subsequently arrived in Isfahan, but the US and Israeli attacks began at that time, forcing the visit to be canceled. According to Grossi, this is why it remains unclear whether the site is merely empty space or contains uranium enrichment equipment.

The IAEA says there may be concrete platforms where centrifuges are to be installed. Centrifuges are machines that process uranium for power generation or nuclear weapons. But it's also possible that some of the machines are already installed or that there are none at all.

Questions on uranium reserves too

Grossi previously stated that nearly half of Iran's uranium, enriched to 60 percent, is stored in a tunnel in this area. This amount is considered close to the level needed to produce a nuclear weapon. According to the IAEA, this uranium is likely still there after the attacks, as there are no signs of it being moved elsewhere.

The United States and Israel claim that Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons, leading them to attack Iranian nuclear sites. However, Iran denies these allegations and maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

Increased risk amid attacks

Recently, reports of an attack on the Bushehr nuclear plant have also surfaced. However, the IAEA has stated that there were no injuries or casualties. Furthermore, the entrances to the underground nuclear plant in Natanz were also targeted, making the situation even more sensitive.

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