Iran accuses Israel and United States of striking Natanz nuclear site

Iran on Saturday accused the United States and Israel of striking the Natanz nuclear site as the country celebrates Eid, in the fourth week of a war with no immediate end in sight.

The effort to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat has been an explicit goal of U.S. President Donald Trump since the beginning of the offensive on Feb. 28.

“Following the criminal attacks carried out by the United States and the usurping Zionist regime against our country, the Natanz enrichment complex was targeted this morning,” the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization said, adding that “no radioactive material leaks have been reported” in the area.

Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who was “informed by Iran” about the strike, called for “military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident.”

When asked by AFP, the Israeli military said it was “not aware of any strike” on Natanz.

Iran had previously accused the United States and Israel of striking the site at the beginning of March, at the start of the conflict. Western nations suspect the Islamic Republic of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, an allegation Iran denies.

Earlier, from Friday night to Saturday, Israeli strikes targeted several neighborhoods in Tehran and its suburbs, as well as the central city of Isfahan. The Israeli military confirmed the strikes, saying it had targeted “regime targets.”