New York, 23 June 2025 (dpa/MIA) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi on Sunday described the condition of the three Iranian nuclear sites targeted by the overnight US strikes to the UN Security Council in New York.

Craters were visible at the well-fortified underground uranium enrichment facility in Fordow, Grossi said at the emergency meeting.

The facility is widely believed to be one of Israel's most critical targets in the war launched on June 13.

"At this time, no one - including the IAEA - is in a position to assess the underground damage at Fordow," he added.

In Isfahan, the entrances to tunnels that had apparently been used to store enriched material had been hit, Grossi said.

At the third site, in Natanz, a fuel enrichment facility had been hit.

Iran had informed the agency that there was no increase in radiation outside the three facilities, Grossi told the council.

The IAEA head called on Iran to allow his agency's inspectors access to the facilities.

He also appealed to all parties involved to return to dialogue and diplomacy in the current "window of opportunity."

"If that window closes, violence and destruction could reach unthinkable levels and the global non-proliferation regime as we know it could crumble and fall," Grossi said.

The US intervened in the war against Iran alongside Israel overnight, attacking the three nuclear facilities. Iran insists its nuclear facilities are for civilian purposes only and called the attacks a violation of international law.

Berlin: Iranian nuclear programme heavily compromised by strikes

Large parts of Iran's nuclear programme have been compromised following the US attacks overnight, a German government spokesman said on Sunday after a security meeting headed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

However, a precise damage assessment of the US airstrikes would only be possible at a later date, spokesman Stefan Kornelius said after the security Cabinet consultations.

Iranian lawmakers to discuss exit from nuclear treaty

The Iranian parliament will weigh the country's withdrawal from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) following the US strikes on its nuclear facilities, reports said on Sunday.

Sara Fallahi, a member of parliament and security committee member, said the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz would also be on the agenda of a special session of the parliamentary committee.

However, an exact date for a closure was not given, the Tasnim news agency reported hours after US warplanes hit the nuclear enrichment facility in Fordow and other sites.

The Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman, which is around 55 kilometres wide, is a key shipping route for global oil exports, for example for tankers departing from Saudi Arabia.

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization condemns 'barbaric' US strikes

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization on Sunday strongly condemned US strikes on its nuclear facilities, calling on the international community to denounce the bombings as well.

The organization described the attacks on the sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan as "barbaric" actions that violate international law.

Tehran also took aim at the IAEA, saying the attacks took place under the indifference or even complicity of the IAEA.

Despite what it called the malicious conspiracies of Tehran's enemies, the Atomic Energy Organization declared that Iran's nuclear programme would not be stopped.

Photo: MIA archive