Iran says Natanz nuclear facility struck in US-Israel operations; IAEA urges restraint

Iran says Natanz nuclear facility struck in US-Israel operations; IAEA urges restraint

Iran’s key nuclear facility at Natanz was struck during recent US and Israeli military operations against the Islamic Republic, Tehran’s ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog said on Monday.

Speaking at a meeting of the 35-nation board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran’s envoy Reza Najafi confirmed the uranium enrichment site was among those targeted.

While there are also reports that Iran's other nuclear facility, Isfahan, is also targeted by US, however it the claims cannot be verified.

"Again they attacked Iran's peaceful, safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday," Najafi told reporters. Asked by Reuters which facilities were hit, he replied: "Natanz."

The Natanz complex, central to Iran’s nuclear programme, has long been a focal point of international scrutiny over Tehran’s enrichment activities.

Meanwhile, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi described the regional situation as “very concerning” and called for “utmost restraint” following the Israeli-US strikes and Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks. However, Grossi said that so far the agency had “no indication” that any nuclear installations in Iran had been damaged or hit.