VIENNA/TEHRAN – June 17, 2025 – New satellite imagery, coupled with assessments from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is providing a clearer picture of the damage inflicted upon Iran’s key nuclear facilities following a series of Israeli strikes that began last Friday. The attacks have ignited a dangerous escalation in regional tensions, raising concerns about nuclear contamination and the future of Iran’s nuclear program.
The most significant impact appears to be at Natanz, Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facility. Before-and-after satellite images, released by companies like Maxar Technologies and Planet Labs PBC, show extensive damage to above-ground structures. These include buildings identified as critical to supplying power to the facility, as well as the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP), which housed numerous advanced centrifuges.
The IAEA, in its latest assessment, has gone further, stating that continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery indicates “direct impacts” on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz. While the main centrifuge facility itself, located deep underground, did not appear to suffer a direct penetrative hit, the loss of power to these subterranean operations is believed to have severely damaged or destroyed many of the approximately 15,000 centrifuges. IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi warned of the possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination within the Natanz site due to potential releases of uranium hexafluoride gas from damaged centrifuges, though external radiation levels remain normal.
At the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center (ENTC), another site targeted by Israel, satellite images show limited damage to some buildings. The IAEA confirmed four critical buildings were affected, including a uranium-conversion facility and a central chemical laboratory. However, no significant increase in radiation levels has been reported at Isfahan.
In contrast, Iran’s deeply buried Fordo enrichment site, designed to withstand airstrikes, appears to have sustained no visible damage according to initial satellite imagery and IAEA reports. This suggests that while Israel aimed to cripple parts of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the most hardened and protected facilities may have escaped direct hits.
Beyond nuclear sites, satellite imagery has also revealed significant damage to various Iranian military facilities. These include missile bases in Kermanshah and Shiraz, and the Shahid Modarres Garrison rocket production facility near Bid Kaneh. Images show destroyed buildings, scattered debris, and burnt vegetation, indicating the precision and intensity of the Israeli strikes.
The recent Israeli military actions, which Israel states are aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, have been met with retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Iran. The escalating conflict has prompted urgent calls for de-escalation from the international community, with fears of a wider regional conflagration and the potential for a nuclear incident.
As the dust settles, experts are analyzing the long-term implications of these attacks. While Israel may have set back parts of Iran’s nuclear program, the extent to which it has crippled Tehran’s overall nuclear ambitions remains a subject of intense debate. The focus now shifts to how quickly Iran can repair and rebuild, and whether this latest confrontation will harden Iran’s resolve to pursue its nuclear goals. The world watches with bated breath, as satellite images continue to tell a stark story of destruction and an escalating crisis.
