Natanz, Iran. The United Nations nuclear watchdog said satellite imagery confirms that entrances to Iran’s underground uranium-enrichment facility at Natanz were struck during US-Israeli military operations. The agency said no radiological consequences were expected.
Satellite imagery assessment
The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Tuesday that recent satellite imagery showed damage to entrance buildings at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP), one of three Iranian uranium-enrichment facilities known to have been operating when Israel and the United States struck Iranian nuclear sites last June.
IAEA statement and impact
“Based on the latest available satellite imagery, IAEA can now confirm some recent damage to entrance buildings of Iran’s underground Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant,” the agency said on X. It added that no radiological consequences were expected and no additional impact had been detected at the FEP itself, which was severely damaged during the June conflict.
Context and prior reports
The confirmation follows a report published Monday by US think-tank the Institute for Science and International Security, and comes after Iran said Natanz was hit on Sunday. The IAEA had initially characterised any strikes as not major.
What do you think the latest IAEA findings mean for monitoring Iran’s nuclear facilities?
