Israel-Iran conflict: Satellite images suggest US avoided hitting nuclear reactors at key facility

For all of the destruction the US Air Force visited on Iran's nuclear programme, satellite images show that military planners were careful not to hit reactors at a key research facility.

Notably absent from the latest International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) damage report are three research reactors operating at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology and Research Center. One of the so-called miniature neutron source reactors, made by China in 1991, runs on 900 grams (2 pounds) of bomb-grade uranium.


American officials said at the weekend that an assessment of the final damage from Trump's decision to join Israel in attacking Iran will take some time. But as more images emerge, the Isfahan sites appear to have been intentionally left untouched, according to four senior officials in Vienna. They asked not to be identified in exchange for discussing sensitive information.

The IAEA's board of governors convened an emergency session on Monday in the Austrian capital to discuss the ongoing strikes against Iran's nuclear programme. Hitting an operational nuclear reactor, even if low powered like the ones at Isfahan, could set a grave precedent, the officials said.

Agency inspectors demanded that Iran inform them about the current location of its highly enriched uranium stockpile. Iran warned the attacks have gravely damaged international diplomatic efforts to halt the spread of atomic weapons.