Iran Confirms Contamination at Natanz Nuclear Facility Following Israeli Strike
Iran confirmed contamination at Natanz after Israeli strikes but said no external risk. Criticized IAEA for ignoring threats. Israel hit underground facility; Iran called damage minor.
Erbil (Kurdistan24) – The spokesperson for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Behrouz Kamalvandi, confirmed on Friday that contamination had been detected inside the Natanz nuclear facility, amid renewed Israeli airstrikes targeting the site.
Kamalvandi stated, “The contamination—whether chemical or radioactive—was detected only inside the facility. There are no indications of external contamination.”
He added, “There is no cause for concern regarding the surrounding areas, but we need to carry out some internal decontamination procedures at the site.”
Kamalvandi also criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying, “We have contacted the agency’s Director General several times without receiving any response. As an official, he should have addressed the threats we are facing, but he has not.”
He continued, “In a media interview, the Director General justified these threats instead of condemning them. We have previous correspondence calling on international organizations to intervene, as these threats pose a global risk.”
Kamalvandi described the IAEA’s latest report as “political and costly,” claiming, “The report reflects a coordinated effort by Western countries. The agency is no longer neutral as it should be, but has instead begun issuing biased reports.”
Iranian media reported that Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Friday, targeting several locations including the Natanz nuclear site.
The Israeli army confirmed it had struck Iran’s largest uranium enrichment facility at Natanz during the operation. According to the statement, a multi-level underground complex at the site sustained damage.
The targeted location in Natanz, the statement said, has been operational for years as part of Iran’s broader efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Iran, however, has downplayed the extent of the damage, calling it superficial.
