The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said Sunday that it has detected no increase in radiation levels at the Iranian nuclear sites targeted by recent US airstrikes, offering the first independent assessment of potential fallout from the attacks.
“Following attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran — including Fordow — the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement posted on X. “IAEA will provide further assessments on the situation in Iran as more information becomes available.”
The comments mark the agency’s first public response since US warplanes struck three key Iranian nuclear facilities late Saturday, in what President Trump called a decisive step to blunt Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Iran, which has accused the IAEA of bias since its conflict with Israel escalated earlier this month, responded sharply to the statement. Senior Iranian officials have claimed — without presenting evidence — that the agency played a role in facilitating the US operation. The IAEA, however, has insisted it remains an impartial international body tasked with monitoring compliance with nuclear nonproliferation agreements.
The full extent of damage to the nuclear sites — Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan — remains unclear. Iranian officials have said the facilities were evacuated before the strikes and have downplayed their impact, while President Trump claimed they were “completely and totally obliterated.” Independent verification has not yet been possible.
