U.S. Strikes Damage Iranian Nuclear Sites as IAEA Warns Risks Persist

The United States military executed a series of bunker-busting airstrikes against Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, including a recent attack on March 21, 2026. Part of a broader campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, these strikes targeted the Shahid Ahmadi-Roshan Enrichment Complex to destroy centrifuges. This follows previous strikes in June 2025 that destroyed roughly 15,000 machines at the Natanz and Fordow sites.

Despite the destruction, Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated that military damage has not eliminated Iran's industrial and scientific base or its technical ability to rebuild. He highlighted the continued risk posed by a stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent, much of which remains under rubble and is difficult to manage due to contamination. While U.S. and Israeli leadership have claimed the program was previously obliterated, the IAEA and U.S. intelligence assess that while Iran has not yet made a formal decision to manufacture nuclear weapons, it retains significant technical capabilities.

Grossi emphasized that diplomacy and a return to the negotiating table are essential to address unresolved concerns. Meanwhile, analysts warn that ongoing military actions may increase the Iranian leadership's conviction that a nuclear deterrent is necessary for survival.