Iran confirms damage to Natanz nuclear facility in Israeli strikes

By bnm Tel Aviv bureau June 13, 2025

Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation confirmed damage to sections of the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan enrichment complex at Natanz following Israeli strikes while reporting no personnel casualties at the site, according to Donya-e-Eqtesad.

The organisation stated that damage assessments are ongoing at various facility sections, but confirmed no radioactive or chemical contamination had spread beyond the site perimeter.

The atomic energy body criticised what it described as "brutal actions contrary to international laws" by Israeli forces, alleging attacks on residential areas that killed military commanders, scientists and civilians. Major General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is already confirmed to be among the casualties.

The organisation accused International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi of failing to condemn Israeli threats against Iranian nuclear facilities despite repeated correspondence over two years.

"Political and military pressures would not affect the determination of scientists, specialists and workers in the nuclear industry," the organisation declared as per the statement, adding that they would pursue national objectives "with double motivation."

The strikes were accompanied by extensive covert operations inside Iran, according to an Israeli security source who spoke to N12. The source revealed that Mossad cells had established bases within Iran containing precision missiles and suicide drones in preparation for the attack.

"As part of their activities, Mossad agents implemented significant moves to introduce special weapons on a large scale, deploy them throughout Iran, and launch them towards the attack targets in a precise and effective manner," the security source stated.

The operations, part of what Israeli sources termed Operation "Am Kalavi," involved three distinct operational systems deployed across Iran. Mossad commando units positioned precision-guided weapons near Iranian surface-to-air missile systems, while sophisticated attack systems were secretly deployed on vehicles to target air defence capabilities.

Additionally, explosive drones infiltrated Iran prior to the attack and were activated during the strike to target surface-to-surface missile launchers at the Asfajabad base near Tehran. The security source described the campaign as requiring "bold and sophisticated planning alongside groundbreaking thinking and strategising" conducted under Iranian security surveillance.

Following the initial strikes, Iran retaliated by firing more than 100 drones at Israel. With Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran's Parliament, vowing revenge on Israel, it appears as if the conflict is set to escalate.

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