The United States and Israel carried out fresh strikes on Iran’s Natanz uranium-enrichment facility on Saturday morning, Iranian state-linked media and officials said, marking another escalation in the ongoing conflict.Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that the Natanz facility was targeted in the joint US-Israeli attack. It added that there were no immediate signs of radioactive leakage and residents in the surrounding area were not at risk.The Islamic Republic’s atomic energy organisation also confirmed the strike, describing it as part of continued attacks on Iran’s infrastructure.“Following the criminal attacks by the United States and the usurping Zionist regime against our country, the… Natanz enrichment complex was targeted this morning,” the organisation said in a statement carried by Tasnim. (AFP)Officials said there was “no leakage of radioactive materials reported” in the central Iranian region where the facility is located. (AFP)The latest attack comes amid intensifying hostilities between the US-Israel alliance and Iran, with both sides engaged in sustained military exchanges over the past three weeks. The targeting of Natanz, a key component of Iran’s nuclear programme, signals continued focus on crippling Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.Earlier this month, Iran had already reported strikes on the same facility during previous rounds of US and Israeli military operations, underlining the site’s strategic importance.
Iran vows to rebuild, insists nuclear programme is civilian
Following earlier attacks, Iranian officials reiterated that the country would restore its nuclear infrastructure.“Destroying buildings and factories will not create a problem for us, we will rebuild and with greater strength,” President Masoud Pezeshkian had said, asserting that Iran’s nuclear programme is aimed at civilian use.“It’s all intended for solving the problems of the people, for disease, for the health of the people,” he added.Tehran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining that its activities are focused on energy and medical applications.
IAEA raises concerns over potential radiation risks
Despite assurances of no immediate leakage, global nuclear watchdog officials have previously warned about the risks associated with strikes on such facilities.IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi had said the “possibility of radiological release cannot be ruled out”.“Let me underline that 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 said.He also urged restraint, noting that the region hosts multiple nuclear facilities, raising the stakes in case of further escalation.
