Iran confirms Natanz facility suffers internal contamination after Israeli strikes

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) has confirmed that the Natanz uranium enrichment facility sustained internal radioactive contamination following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, although no external radiation has been detected.

“There is internal radioactive contamination at Natanz, but no external radiation has been detected and there is no cause for concern,” Spokesman for the agency Behrouz Kamalvandi stated, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

It added that decontamination procedures were currently underway and that a full assessment of the damage would be conducted once cleanup efforts are completed.

Natanz, a critical component of Iran’s uranium enrichment program, has been the target of repeated sabotage incidents widely attributed to Israel. The latest strikes were part of a sweeping Israeli military operation that reportedly targeted multiple sites across Iran. Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of senior military and nuclear officials in the attacks.

Further strikes were later reported near the cities of Tabriz and Shiraz, which Iranian television described as “an aggressive attack.” Tehran has denounced the Israeli operation as a “declaration of war” and placed blame on both Israel and the United States, despite official denials from Washington regarding any involvement.

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that he was prepared to travel to Iran to evaluate the situation firsthand. He confirmed that Iran’s Fordow enrichment facility and another nuclear site in Esfahan were not affected by the strikes.

“There are no elevated radiation levels,” Grossi said, in what was understood to reference external emissions. He urged all parties involved to “avoid further escalation and return to dialogue,” as fears of a broader regional conflict continue to mount.

By Vafa Guliyeva