Israeli Strike Directly Hit Iran’s Natanz Underground Enrichment Plant, IAEA Says

 This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows the Natanz nuclear enrichment site in Iran after an Israeli strike Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows the Natanz nuclear enrichment site in Iran after an Israeli strike Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
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Israeli Strike Directly Hit Iran’s Natanz Underground Enrichment Plant, IAEA Says

 This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows the Natanz nuclear enrichment site in Iran after an Israeli strike Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows the Natanz nuclear enrichment site in Iran after an Israeli strike Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

An Israeli military strike on Iran's nuclear complex at Natanz directly hit the underground uranium enrichment plant there, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday, revising its assessment after initially reporting it had been hit only indirectly.

Since Israel's launched wide-ranging attacks on Iran on Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency has been providing updates on its assessment of the damage to nuclear sites, although it has not been able to carry out inspections.

The IAEA had previously said an above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz was destroyed but the larger underground plant was not directly hit, although IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday its centrifuges had very likely been badly damaged by a strike on the plant's power supply.

However, on Tuesday it said on X: "Based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz."

It said there was "no change to report" at Iran's two other major nuclear sites, Isfahan and Fordo.

Grossi had said on Monday there was little or no apparent damage at Fordo, where Iran has enriched uranium up to 60%, close to the 90% weapons grade, at a plant dug deep into a mountain.

At the Isfahan nuclear complex, several facilities were destroyed, including Iran's plant that converted uranium into a form into which it could be fed into centrifuges for enrichment, the IAEA has reported.



Turkish Prosecutor Launches Probe into Main Opposition Leader

Turkish main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel delivers a speech during the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) Congress at the City Cube in Berlin, Germany, 28 June 2025.  EPA/FILIP SINGER
Turkish main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel delivers a speech during the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) Congress at the City Cube in Berlin, Germany, 28 June 2025. EPA/FILIP SINGER
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Turkish Prosecutor Launches Probe into Main Opposition Leader

Turkish main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel delivers a speech during the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) Congress at the City Cube in Berlin, Germany, 28 June 2025.  EPA/FILIP SINGER
Turkish main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel delivers a speech during the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) Congress at the City Cube in Berlin, Germany, 28 June 2025. EPA/FILIP SINGER

A Turkish prosecutor launched an investigation on Monday into main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel following remarks he made criticizing the government and the president, broadcaster NTV said.

The prosecutor in capital Ankara will investigate Republic People's Party (CHP) head Ozel's Saturday statements on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, publicly inciting to commit a crime, and insulting and threatening public officials, NTV reported.

In his speech, Ozel was criticizing the widening crackdown on the opposition-run municipalities after Turkish authorities detained three more mayors on Saturday over corruption charges, according to Reuters.