IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi locates majority of Iran's 60% enriched uranium at bombarded Isfahan site

Rafael Grossi warns that most of Iran's 60% enriched uranium is likely at the Isfahan site. IAEA seeks urgent access as the NPT review begins in New York.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 29, 2026, 9:40 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from AP

The Strategic Mystery of the Isfahan Tunnels

The International Atomic Energy Agency believes that the bulk of Iran’s highly enriched uranium remains concentrated at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, despite the facility being a primary target during recent military escalations. Speaking to the Associated Press on April 29, 2026, Director-General Rafael Grossi indicated that the material has likely been stationary since the outbreak of a 12 day conflict in June 2025. The IAEA’s current assessment relies on satellite imagery and historical data, as physical inspections were abruptly halted when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian nuclear infrastructure nearly one year ago.

Satellite Evidence of Pre War Material Movement

Central to the IAEA’s findings is high resolution imagery provided by an Airbus satellite, which captured significant logistics activity just days before the June 2025 war. On June 9, 2025, monitors observed a transport vehicle carrying 18 blue containers into the subterranean tunnel network at the Isfahan complex. Grossi noted that these containers are believed to hold the highly enriched uranium that Iran had been processing prior to the escalation. The move into the tunnels was likely a defensive measure by Tehran to shield its most sensitive assets from the impending aerial bombardment that characterized the subsequent conflict.

Enrichment Levels Near Weapons Grade Threshold

The technical data provided by the IAEA suggests that Iran has successfully enriched 440.9 kilograms of uranium to a purity level of 60%. This concentration is a narrow, technical step away from the 90% threshold required for weapons grade material. Grossi specified that roughly 200 kilograms of this specific stockpile is estimated to be stored within the Isfahan tunnels. The presence of such a large quantity of near weapons grade material, shielded from international eyes for almost a year, represents a significant blind spot for global nonproliferation efforts and a major point of friction in the current geopolitical standoff.