The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site has been destroyed, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council on Friday.
“At present, the Iranian authorities are informing us of attacks on two other facilities, namely the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan,” the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Grossi told the 15-member council.
“At this moment we do not have enough information beyond indicating that military activity has been taken place around these facilities as well.”
Natanz Nuclear Facility
The Natanz Nuclear Facility, officially known as the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan Nuclear Complex, is one of Iran’s most significant nuclear installations, located near the city of Natanz in Isfahan Province. As a key part of Iran’s nuclear program, the facility is primarily used for uranium enrichment, a process essential for both civilian nuclear energy and, potentially, nuclear weapons development.
The facility includes a highly fortified underground enrichment center, constructed at a depth of approximately 40 to 50 meters beneath the surface. This deep underground design is intended to ensure both the safety of nearby populations and protection from aerial or missile attacks. The main enrichment halls are shielded by a concrete barrier that is roughly 7.6 meters thick, making it one of the most secure nuclear sites in Iran.
The existence of the Natanz site was first publicly revealed in 2002 by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, leading to increased international scrutiny and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Since then, Natanz has remained at the center of global nuclear diplomacy involving Iran and world powers.
In June 2025, the facility reportedly sustained damage during Israeli military strikes, part of Israel’s broader campaign to disrupt Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. Reuters reported explosions in the vicinity, and the IAEA later confirmed that the site had indeed been hit. The extent of the damage and its impact on Iran’s enrichment activities remain a subject of global concern.
Due to its scale, strategic location, and level of fortification, the Natanz facility continues to play a central role in Iran’s nuclear ambitions and remains a flashpoint in the regional tensions between Iran and Israel.
