IAEA confirms limited damage at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility after strikes

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that some damage has occurred at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, based on the latest satellite imagery analysis, the UN watchdog said on March 3.

The announcement comes amid ongoing military strikes in the region that include attacks on Iranian targets by United States and Israeli forces.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the IAEA said that the recent imagery shows signs of damage to entrance buildings at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant, an underground uranium enrichment complex that has been central to global concerns over Tehran’s nuclear activities. The agency emphasised that the damage appears to be limited to these external structures.

The IAEA also stated that it does not expect any radiological impact from the observed damage and that there are no indications of further impact on the plant’s core enrichment infrastructure itself.

The facility had already suffered significant harm in a separate conflict last year.

While reaffirming its commitment to monitoring nuclear safety and security, the agency said it will continue to analyse developments and early satellite data to ensure comprehensive oversight.

Iran’s toughest nuclear site had remained under close watch after earlier strikes in June 2025 caused major setbacks to enrichment operations.

Earlier, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi had told the agency’s Board of Governors that there was no clear indication that Iran’s nuclear installations had been damaged by recent strikes, even as Iranian representatives claimed the opposite. Efforts to re-establish direct communication with Iranian nuclear authorities have so far been unsuccessful.

Natanz, located in central Iran, is the country’s main nuclear enrichment complex and has long been a focus of international non-proliferation concerns.

Damage to its access points raises questions about continued operations, although the IAEA’s latest assessment suggests core enrichment systems have not been further compromised.