Vienna: Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has expressed his readiness to travel to Iran to personally evaluate the condition of the country’s nuclear infrastructure following a series of Israeli airstrikes, including reported hits near the Natanz nuclear facility.

Addressing the IAEA’s Board of Governors on Friday, Grossi stated that according to Iranian officials, the Natanz nuclear site had been struck during Israel’s recent military campaign. However, other key sites—including the Fordow enrichment facility and a nuclear installation in Esfahan—reportedly escaped damage. Grossi assured that there had been no increase in radiation levels at Natanz, suggesting that the core infrastructure may remain intact.

“I have communicated to the relevant Iranian authorities my willingness to visit at the earliest opportunity to directly assess the situation and reinforce safety, security, and non-proliferation commitments,” Grossi announced.

He did not disclose specifics regarding the nature or extent of the damage at Natanz, which houses both a large underground uranium enrichment facility and an above-ground pilot enrichment plant. The latter is currently being used to enrich uranium to 60% purity—just short of the 90% threshold considered weapons-grade—though Iran is reportedly producing greater quantities of enriched material at the Fordow site, which is more deeply buried and difficult to target.

Grossi warned against further military actions near nuclear facilities, highlighting the risks such attacks pose to human life and environmental safety. “I urge all parties to show utmost restraint. Strikes near nuclear sites carry potential consequences not just for Iran but for the wider region and global security,” he stressed.

Despite the intensifying conflict, the UN nuclear chief emphasized that diplomacy remains the only viable path. “Dialogue, not destruction, must guide the way forward,” Grossi asserted. “Only through cooperative engagement can Iran, Israel, and the international community ensure long-term peace and nuclear stability.”

His offer to mediate comes amid growing international concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and fears that military escalation could severely undermine regional non-proliferation efforts.