Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility hit in US-Israeli strikes, atomic energy organisation says The United States and Israel launched an airstrike on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility on Saturday, March 21, targeting its enrichment complex, according to the Islamic Republic’s atomic energy organisation. The attack occurred as the conflict in West Asia entered its fourth week. Iranian media reported that the strike targeted the facility’s enrichment operations in the early hours of the attack. The organisation, as reported by Tasnim news agency, stated that the strike followed “criminal attacks” by the US and Israel, with the Natanz enrichment complex being the primary target. It emphasized that “no leakage of radioactive materials” was reported in the area, which is located in central Iran. This aligns with earlier statements from the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which confirmed damage to the facility from previous strikes but noted that “no radiological consequence” was expected. The IAEA reiterated its call for military restraint following the attack, urging all parties to avoid actions that could risk a nuclear accident. In a statement shared on X, the agency acknowledged Iran’s report of the strike and confirmed that no increase in off-site radiation levels had been detected. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reiterated the need for caution to prevent any potential nuclear incidents. The strike on Natanz marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict, which began on February 28 when US and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other senior officials. The operation was labeled “Epic Fury” by the US and “Lion’s Roar” by Israel.#us #iran #israel #natanz #international_atomic_energy_agency
Iran accuses the United States and Israel of attacking its Natanz nuclear facility, according to the country’s atomic energy organization. The statement, released via Tasnim news agency, claims the facility was targeted “this morning” following “criminal attacks” by the U.S. and Israel. The organization emphasized that no radioactive materials were leaked from the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan enrichment site, located about 220 kilometers southeast of Tehran. Officials confirmed there is no danger to nearby residents, as no radiation levels outside the facility were reported. The Natanz site, one of Iran’s most critical uranium enrichment centers, was previously attacked during a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025. Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall noted that the Iranian nuclear organization’s statement did not specify the method or type of weapons used in Saturday’s strike. He highlighted the strategic importance of Natanz, alongside Isfahan’s nuclear facilities, as a key target for the U.S. and Israel to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed Iran had informed it about the U.S.-Israel attack, with the UN nuclear watchdog stating no increase in off-site radiation levels was detected. IAEA head Rafael Grossi reiterated calls for military restraint to prevent nuclear accidents during the conflict. The White House has stated that a primary goal of the U.S.-led war against Iran, launched on February 28, is to prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons. Satellite images from the first week of the 22-day war showed damage to Natanz, with several buildings reportedly destroyed. Russia condemned the latest attack as a “blatant violation of international law,” according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.#iran #united_states #israel #iaea #natanz
Israel Threatens Surge in Attacks on Iran as Britain Condemns Tehran's Targeting of US-UK Air Base Israel’s defense minister warned of an increased military campaign against Iran on Saturday, while Britain criticized Tehran for launching an attack on a U.S.-UK joint air base in the Indian Ocean. The escalating conflict in the Middle East, now in its fourth week, has seen multiple strikes and threats from both sides, with no signs of a pause in hostilities. The Iranian attack on the Diego Garcia air base—located approximately 2,500 miles from Iran—highlighted Tehran’s capability to strike distant targets, suggesting it possesses longer-range missiles than previously acknowledged. The strike, which failed to damage the facility, drew condemnation from British officials, who emphasized the threat posed by Iran’s actions to regional stability and U.S. interests. Britain has allowed American bombers to use its bases, including Diego Garcia, to target Iran’s missile sites, though it has not participated in direct attacks. Meanwhile, Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was hit by an airstrike, according to an official Iranian news agency. The attack, which occurred near Tehran, did not result in radiation leaks, as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Satellite images showed damage to the facility, which had already been targeted in earlier strikes during the war. The IAEA stated there were no radiological consequences from the earlier attack and is now investigating the latest strike. The conflict has also seen significant casualties and disruptions. In Iran, over 1,300 people have been killed, while Israel reported 15 deaths from Iranian missile strikes and four fatalities in the occupied West Bank. U.S. military personnel have suffered at least 13 casualties.#iran #israel #natanz #britain #diego_garcia
Iran's next supreme leader won't 'last long' without my approval, Trump says President Donald Trump claimed Sunday that the new leader of Iran would not survive without his approval, stating that the country’s leadership must seek his endorsement to avoid a prolonged conflict. Speaking to ABC News, Trump emphasized that the Iranian regime would need to secure his backing, warning that without it, the new leader would face significant challenges. “He’s going to have to get approval from us,” Trump said. “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long. We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years, when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it.” Trump also expressed concerns about the potential for Iran to develop nuclear capabilities, stating that he would not allow the country to acquire a nuclear weapon. “I don’t want people to have to go back in five years and have to do the same thing again or worse let them have a nuclear weapon,” he added. When asked if he would approve a leader with ties to the previous regime, Trump responded affirmatively, suggesting that several individuals could qualify for the role. The president further claimed that Iran was planning to take over the entire Middle East, describing the regime as a “paper tiger” that had previously intended to launch attacks. “They were going to attack the entire Middle East, to take over the entire Middle East,” Trump said. He also hinted at the possibility of U.S. military action, stating that “everything is on the table. Everything.” A senior administration official revealed that Iran had enriched enough uranium to reach weapons-grade material within 10 days, with much of the stockpile located at sites bombed during Operation Midnight Hammer, including Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.#iran #donald_trump #abc_news #operation_midnight_hammer #natanz
