Satellite Images Reveal Strikes on Natanz Nuclear Facility in Iran

SadaNews - Recent satellite images captured by the company Vantour on March 2, 2026, show extensive damage at the Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran, following airstrikes by Israeli and American forces, amid escalating tensions in the region.

The Institute for Science and International Security revealed satellite images from Vantour, indicating what appears to be the first known attacks on the underground uranium enrichment site at Natanz since the onset of the Israeli-American war against Iran.

Analysis of the images showed that the strikes caused damage to a number of surface buildings covering the entrances for personnel and vehicles leading to the underground enrichment complex within the facility. Partial destruction of some structures was also noted, with signs of excavation and collapses around the access points.

David Albright, a former nuclear inspector and founder of the institute, explained that the images suggest two strikes occurred between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning local time, resulting in the destruction of three buildings, two of which represented the entrances to two underground halls containing thousands of centrifuges, and the third covering the only slope leading to the two halls.

Comparisons between satellite images taken on March 1 and 2, 2026, in addition to an archived image from 2002 during the site's construction phase, show clear changes in the area surrounding the vehicle slope and personnel entrances.

These changes indicate that the strikes targeted access points to the underground infrastructure, while the extent of damage within the enrichment facilities themselves remains unclear. The Natanz complex is one of Iran's most prominent uranium enrichment centers, housing underground facilities designed to safeguard sensitive nuclear activities.

Although prior strikes in June 2025 rendered the two halls inoperable, the recent two strikes may suggest the presence of repairable equipment or items related to the Iranian nuclear program.

In contrast, Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, denied any damage to Iranian nuclear facilities, while Reza Najafi, Iran's envoy to the agency, confirmed that the Natanz site was attacked, presenting a clear contradiction to Grossi's statements, who noted that the agency is monitoring the situation through satellite images due to the absence of its personnel in Iran at the moment.