SRINAGAR: Iran has alleged that its key uranium enrichment complex at Natanz nuclear facility was targeted during joint military operations by the United States and Israel, sharply escalating tensions around Tehran’s nuclear programme and prompting renewed warnings from the UN nuclear watchdog, world media reported.
The claim was made by Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during a meeting of the agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors in Vienna. Reza Najafi told reporters that “peaceful, safeguarded nuclear facilities” had been attacked, and, when asked to specify the site, replied, “Natanz.”
The alleged strike comes in the aftermath of coordinated military actions described by Washington and Tel Aviv as Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion. The operations have significantly heightened hostilities across West Asia, triggering retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran on US and Israeli-linked targets in several countries.
The Natanz complex, located in central Iran, is one of Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facilities and has long been a focal point of international scrutiny and past sabotage allegations. Parts of the installation are built underground and reinforced to withstand potential air strikes. The site houses centrifuge halls and associated nuclear fuel infrastructure used to process uranium for civilian energy purposes and, potentially, weapons-grade material.
Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would rebuild any damaged infrastructure and reiterated that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons. “Destroying buildings and factories will not create a problem for us, we will rebuild and with greater strength,” he said during a visit to the country’s atomic energy organisation, adding that Iran’s nuclear activities are intended for civilian applications, including health and energy.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security environment, warning that continued military operations in a region hosting multiple nuclear installations could create the risk of a radiological incident.
“The situation today is very concerning. We cannot rule out a possible radiological release with serious consequences, including the necessity to evacuate areas as large or larger than major cities,” Grossi told the Board of Governors.
He said the agency possesses detailed knowledge of nuclear and radiological material in the region and has contingency guidance in place in case of an attack or accident. The IAEA, he added, stands ready to provide technical assistance if nuclear safety is compromised.
Despite Iran’s allegation regarding Natanz, Grossi stated that the agency currently has no indication that any nuclear installations in Iran have suffered confirmed damage.
“Regarding the status of the nuclear installations in Iran up to now, we have no indication that any of the nuclear installations, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the Tehran research reactor, or other nuclear fuel cycle facilities have been damaged or hit,” he said.
The IAEA also confirmed that radiation levels in countries bordering Iran have not shown any abnormal increase. However, the regional nuclear safety monitoring network has been placed on alert, and liaison with member states is ongoing.
Grossi noted that several countries in the region operate nuclear power plants or research reactors, raising broader safety concerns amid expanding hostilities. He urged “utmost restraint” in all military operations, stressing that strikes near enrichment plants, reactors or fuel storage facilities carry unpredictable environmental and humanitarian risks.
He further disclosed that efforts to contact Iranian nuclear regulatory authorities through established emergency communication channels had so far received no response, and called for those lines to be restored promptly to ensure rapid coordination in the event of any incident.
“Diplomacy is hard, but it is never impossible. Nuclear diplomacy is even more difficult, but it’s never impossible,” Grossi said, referring to ongoing diplomatic initiatives, including consultations in Geneva.
As military exchanges intensify across West Asia, the alleged strike on Natanz has amplified global concern that further escalation could push the region toward a nuclear safety crisis, even in the absence of confirmed reactor damage.
