Iranian nuclear facilities are attacked again; the International Atomic Energy Agency continues to call for "restraint"

After the airstrikes on two nuclear facilities in Iran on the 27th, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) posted on social media stating that the agency’s Director General, Grossi, “once again calls for military restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.” The IAEA said it has received reports from Iran indicating that a “yellowcake” production facility in Ardakan, Yazd province, was attacked that day, but there are no reports of elevated radiation levels outside the site; the Hondeb nuclear facility near the capital of Markazi province, Arak, was also attacked that day, but since the facility does not contain declared nuclear material, no radiation risk was found. The IAEA is conducting an investigation based on Iran’s report. “Yellowcake” is uranium oxide, typically extracted from crushed natural uranium ore. It is a necessary intermediate product in the nuclear fuel production process but cannot be used directly in nuclear reactors and is generally used for refining enriched uranium. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that the Israeli military carried out airstrikes on two Iranian nuclear facilities that day. Earlier that day, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Gharib Abadi, posted on social media criticizing Grossi for not condemning the attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities to date, nor for issuing serious warnings about the impact of the war on Iran’s safeguarded nuclear program and the potential consequences of using other destructive and illegal weapons. Previously, the Natanz nuclear facility was attacked twice on March 1; a building within the Bushehr nuclear power plant complex was attacked on March 17; and on March 21, the Natanz nuclear facility was attacked again. (Xinhua News Agency)