International Atomic Energy Agency: Observes activity around Iran's Javad Fars site

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that satellite images showed signs of new activity at the “Jabal al-Fas” facility, a heavily fortified Iranian site near the Natanz uranium enrichment plant. In an interview with Bloomberg Television, Grossi explained that IAEA inspectors have not yet entered the tunnel complex, so the agency lacks specific information about the nature of activities taking place inside. He revealed that there are “some indicators” of movement around the construction site, but stressed that no concrete information is available about what is happening there.

Jabal al-Fas is located in the Zagros Mountains, about 220 kilometers south of Tehran, near the Natanz facility. Development of the site began after an Iranian centrifuge workshop was targeted in a sabotage attack roughly six years ago. Grossi noted that Tehran at the time stated it had moved facilities into underground tunnels to protect them from attacks. Western agencies suspect the site may be linked to nuclear activities, but the UN-affiliated agency has been unable to inspect it or determine the nature of the activities within.

Grossi’s comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his threat to strike “Jabal al-Fas,” stating that Washington had observed activity at the site. Speaking at a Republican rally on Wednesday, Trump said the United States was monitoring movements at Jabal al-Fas and warned Tehran against any activity that might prompt Washington to target it.

Western powers are calling on Iran to halt uranium enrichment and dismantle its centrifuge program, while Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Grossi’s remarks followed the IAEA Board of Governors’ referral of the Iranian nuclear file to the UN Security Council due to Tehran’s failure to comply with requirements related to its nuclear activities.