Damage to Iran nuclear sites from Israel's strikes appears limited for now, experts say
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that it was unclear whether Iran still has a nuclear programme following Israeli strikes, but experts say the damage to the country's nuclear facilities so far has appeared limited.
Israel's attacks succeeded in killing Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists and striking military command and control facilities and air defences, but satellite imagery did not yet show significant damage to nuclear infrastructure, several experts said.
'The first day was aimed at things that you would get through surprise – killing leadership, going after nuclear scientists, air defence systems, the ability to retaliate,' said nuclear expert David Albright at the Institute for Science and International Security.
'We can't see any visible damage at Fordow or Isfahan. There was damage at Natanz,' said Albright, referring to Iranian nuclear sites. But 'there's no evidence that the underground site was destroyed'.
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council on Friday that the above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site had been destroyed and Iran had reported attacks on Fordow and Isfahan.
A satellite image shows an overview of Iran's Fordow uranium enrichment facility, south of Tehran, in February. Image: Maxar Technologies via AFP
Grossi said electricity infrastructure at Natanz was also destroyed and the loss of power to a cascade hall may have damaged centrifuges there. But he said the level of radioactivity outside Natanz remained unchanged and normal.
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US President Donald Trump said on Friday that it was unclear whether Iran still has a nuclear programme following Israeli strikes, but experts say the damage to the country's nuclear facilities so far has appeared limited. Israel's attacks succeeded in killing Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists and striking military command and control facilities and air defences, but satellite imagery did not yet show significant damage to nuclear infrastructure, several experts said. 'The first day was aimed at things that you would get through surprise – killing leadership, going after nuclear scientists, air defence systems, the ability to retaliate,' said nuclear expert David Albright at the Institute for Science and International Security. 'We can't see any visible damage at Fordow or Isfahan. There was damage at Natanz,' said Albright, referring to Iranian nuclear sites. But 'there's no evidence that the underground site was destroyed'. UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council on Friday that the above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Iran's Natanz nuclear site had been destroyed and Iran had reported attacks on Fordow and Isfahan. A satellite image shows an overview of Iran's Fordow uranium enrichment facility, south of Tehran, in February. Image: Maxar Technologies via AFP Grossi said electricity infrastructure at Natanz was also destroyed and the loss of power to a cascade hall may have damaged centrifuges there. But he said the level of radioactivity outside Natanz remained unchanged and normal.
