ALBAWABA - According to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi, Iran temporarily closed its nuclear facilities over "security considerations" in the wake of its massive missile and drone attack on Israel over the weekend.
After being asked whether he was concerned about the possibility of an Israeli strike on an Iranian nuclear facility in retaliation for the attack, Grossi said: "We are always concerned about this possibility. What I can tell you is that our inspectors in Iran were informed by the Iranian government that yesterday (Sunday), all the nuclear facilities that we are inspecting every day would remain closed on security considerations,".
Iran retaliated against Israel by launching more than 300 drones and missiles into Israel during the course of the night on Saturday and Sunday, following an Israeli airstrike that killed seven Revolutionary Guards in Damascus, Syria, which killed several, including two generals.
Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed in a televised speech after Eid al-Fitr prayers in the capital that Israel "will be punished" for attacking the Iranian consulate in Syria.
The facilities were to reopen on Monday, Grossi stated, but inspectors would not return until the following day. "I decided to not let the inspectors return until we see that the situation is completely calm," he added, while calling for "extreme restraint" from both sides.
Later on Saturday, Iranian television confirmed that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's attack began with drones launched against targets in the occupied territories.
Several surrounding countries announced closing airspace amid the Iranian attack, whereas Israel kept its airspace closed till 7 a.m. the following morning.
