Experts believe damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities appears limited so far, though US President Donald Trump said on Friday that it remains unclear whether Iran still has a nuclear program after the Israeli strikes.
Several experts say Israel’s strikes successfully targeted Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists, command facilities, and air defences, but satellite imagery has not yet revealed major damage to key nuclear infrastructure, reports Reuters.
“The first day was aimed at things you would get through surprise — killing leadership, going after nuclear scientists, air defence systems, the ability to retaliate,” said David Albright, a nuclear expert at the Institute for Science and International Security.
Albright noted there was visible damage at Natanz but added, “We can’t see any visible damage at Fordow or Isfahan… There’s no evidence that the underground site was destroyed.”
Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear inspector, informed the Security Council on Friday that Iran had reported strikes on Fordow and Isfahan and that the above-ground pilot enrichment unit at Iran's nuclear site in Natanz had been destroyed.
According to Grossi, the electricity infrastructure in Natanz was also devastated, and centrifuges there might have been harmed by the cascade hall's power outage. However, he said that the radiation level outside of Natanz stayed constant and typical.
Iran's primary uranium enrichment facility is the expansive Natanz nuclear complex. There is a large underground uranium enrichment facility as well as a smaller aboveground pilot enrichment facility at the location.
After the Israeli strikes, Trump told Reuters over the phone that it was uncertain if Iran still had a nuclear program.
Israel launched a major air assault on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities early Friday.
Key targets included Iran’s underground nuclear site at Natanz, while strikes also damaged facilities in Fordo and Isfahan. Iran reported 78 killed and 320 wounded in the initial attacks.
Among the dead were senior Iranian military leaders
Iran responded with waves of missile attacks on Israel on Friday and Saturday, injuring dozens and killing at least one person.
