Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran
Tehran, Jun 17: In a stunning development, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Israel's recent airstrike on Iran has successfully hit the underground section of the Natanz nuclear complex, one of Tehran's most secretive and heavily fortified nuclear facilities.
Located deep beneath the surface, Natanz was long considered impervious to conventional strikes. However, satellite imagery and post-strike assessments indicate direct impact on underground uranium enrichment halls, the IAEA said in a statement on social media platform X.
“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 global nuclear watchdog stated.
The Friday strike, widely believed to be Israel’s most daring precision assault, has reportedly damaged the facility’s power supply, which may have impacted centrifuge operations used for uranium enrichment, according to IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.
While official inspection of the site remains inaccessible due to escalating tensions, the IAEA continues to monitor the situation remotely using satellite data and sources on the ground.
In a prior attack, Israel had destroyed an above-ground facility at the same Natanz site, but the confirmation of a successful strike on the underground facility marks a significant escalation.
Grossi also said there were no signs of impact at Iran’s Fordow nuclear site, where enrichment had previously exceeded 60% purity—alarmingly close to the 90% threshold required for weapons-grade uranium. The Fordow plant, buried deep within a mountain, is considered nearly impregnable without the use of U.S.-made bunker-buster bombs.
There were also no updates on the Isfahan nuclear site, which remains unaffected for now.
The strike has further heightened tensions in the Middle East, with fears of wider regional conflict as Israel and Iran continue their shadow war. The IAEA’s confirmation is likely to draw global attention as diplomatic efforts struggle to de-escalate the situation.