Attack on the nuclear heart of Iran. The US and Israel used “bunker busters” in Natanz

Iran on Saturday accused the United States and Israel of attacking the Natanz nuclear complex in central Iran that morning. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, called for “military restraint.”

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said in a statement that the Natanz complex was the target of “criminal attacks by the United States and the Zionist regime,” but there was no radioactive leak and people living near the facility were not in danger.

Grossi said he had been “informed by Iran” about the attack and called for “military restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.”

An Israeli army representative, asked about this by AFP, said he had “no knowledge of the attack” on Natanz.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported, citing its sources, that Saturday's attack was carried out by the United States using penetrating bombs, known as “bunker busters”.

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that the Iranian army attacked aircraft fuel tanks at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel with drones.

The Natanz facility was one of the main targets of the US and Israel's 12-day war on Iran last June. It has also been attacked during the current war, which began on February 28. The effects of the bombing remain unknown.

This facility, located approximately 230 km south of Tehran, is one of the main complexes of Iran's nuclear program, used to enrich uranium. It consists of several facilities, including a huge underground fuel enrichment plant and an above-ground pilot fuel enrichment plant.

Iran has long been accused by Western countries of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denied it, arguing that its goal was only the civilian use of nuclear energy, but at the same time it was intensively enriching uranium to levels that could not be used for peaceful purposes.

According to the UN, Iran has about 440 kg of uranium enriched to 60 percent, which – after enrichment to 90 percent. – would allow for the construction of eight to ten nuclear bombs.

Israel denies the attacks

Iran on Saturday accused the United States and Israel of attacking the Natanz nuclear complex in central Iran. The Israeli army said its forces did not carry out any attacks in the area and that it would not comment on Americans' actions during the war, the Times of Israel reported.

(PAP)