VIENNA — The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that recent Israeli airstrikes damaged underground infrastructure at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, likely destroying thousands of centrifuges, the agency said Wednesday.
The strikes, part of a broader Israeli campaign against Iranian military and intelligence infrastructure, have reportedly degraded Tehran’s missile capabilities, as reflected in a drop in missile fire at Israel in recent days.
In addition to military targets, Israel has targeted Iranian energy infrastructure and surveillance centers linked to domestic repression, a move analysts say could destabilize the regime’s ability to control internal dissent.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” as the United States deployed additional forces to the Middle East. Senior U.S. and Iranian officials could meet in the coming days to discuss a possible resolution to the conflict, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Iran has warned it will strike U.S. forces in retaliation if attacked. The New York Times reported that Tehran plans to first target American positions in Iraq, followed by attacks on unspecified Arab nations, likely in the Persian Gulf region.
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have also vowed to join the fight, with commanders saying they will attack U.S. forces if Washington initiates direct strikes against Iran. The same militias were responsible for roughly 200 attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria between October 2023 and November 2024.
In Yemen, a senior Houthi official pledged support for Iran, warning that Houthi forces could target U.S. and Israeli assets or renew attacks on international maritime traffic.
