US and Israel strike Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, no radiation leak reported
This incident has sparked concerns about the escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirming no off-site radiation levels were observed
TEHRAN (The Uttam Hindu): The Islamic Republic's Atomic Energy Organization claimed that a joint US and Israeli attack struck Iran's Natanz nuclear facility on Saturday morning, local media reported, citing the organization.
"The United States and the Israeli regime targeted the Natanz Enrichment Complex on Saturday morning," the organization said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency. It also said there were "no reports of radioactive (dangerous nuclear) leaks" in the central Iranian region.
Reports indicate no harm to residents nearby. The attack on Natanz came shortly after the US-Israeli military conflict began. On March 3, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that buildings near the entrance to Iran's Natanz nuclear facility suffered minor damage.
The statement comes amid growing questions about satellite images released by Israel. Satellite images from the past two days clearly showed damage caused by the US-Israeli bombing campaign. The international agency that monitors nuclear programs confirmed the damage to Iran's Natanz nuclear facility complex.
"Based on the latest satellite imagery, the IAEA now confirms some recent damage to the entrance buildings of Iran's underground Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP); this poses no threat and no further impacts have been observed at the FEP, which suffered extensive damage in the June fighting," the agency said on X.
The Natanz facility was one of the main targets in the previous 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June, which the US eventually joined in. On Monday, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi claimed that there were no immediate signs of damage to any Iranian nuclear facilities in the joint US-Israeli strikes.
He also appealed to the world to exercise utmost restraint. The IAEA chief clarified that no attacks or damage had been reported at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the Tehran Research Reactor, or other fuel facilities.