In a startling escalation of the shadow war between Israel and Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Israel’s recent airstrike directly hit Iran’s deeply buried Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, reported by the NDTV.
The Natanz complex, long considered virtually impervious to attack due to its subterranean construction, was believed to be beyond the reach of conventional weapons. Yet, high-resolution satellite imagery analyzed by the IAEA shows clear evidence of impact on the underground enrichment halls following the strike last Friday.
“Based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday’s attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz,” the agency posted on X.
This revelation follows a previous strike that destroyed an overground enrichment section of the same facility. The IAEA, relying on satellite data and local sources, reported likely damage to critical infrastructure, including centrifuges, due to disruptions in the plant’s power supply.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi noted Monday that while damage at Natanz appears substantial, Iran’s other major nuclear sites—Isfahan and Fordow—remain largely unaffected. Fordow, hidden deep within a mountain and considered nearly immune to anything short of a U.S. bunker-buster, continues to enrich uranium past 60%, edging dangerously close to weapons-grade.
Due to security concerns amid escalating tensions, IAEA inspectors have not yet accessed the Natanz site in person. The agency continues its assessment remotely.
This strike marks a significant moment in the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict, signaling both a technological breakthrough in Israel’s strike capability and a new level of risk for Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The international community watches warily as tensions in the region inch closer to open confrontation.
