Tehran: Fears and tensions are rising in the Middle East and beyond as Israel continues its airstrikes targeting multiple nuclear facilities in Iran. The Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure began last Friday, a day after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censured Iran for a lack of transparency over its nuclear program.
According to Anadolu Agency, the attacks, which Israel says aim to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb, have disrupted the next scheduled round of US-Iran nuclear talks and have sparked a daily exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran. The death toll from Israeli attacks on Tehran and other areas of Iran has risen to 585, including dozens of women and children, with more than 1,300 people injured, according to media reports. On the Israeli side, at least 24 people have been killed and over 500 wounded.
Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons and emphasizes its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Israel, the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons, has never officially acknowledged their existence and remains one of the few nations that never joined the NPT. Following Israel’s escalation, Tehran has indicated it could pull out of the NPT.
Iran’s nuclear infrastructure reportedly spans over 30 facilities across the country, with some built deep underground. Among the sites Israel has struck is the Natanz nuclear facility, Iran’s main site for uranium enrichment. The UN nuclear watchdog reported extensive impacts at Natanz, marking the first time it confirmed damage to the underground portion of the facility.
Six days into the escalation, Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility has also become a key focus. Located under a mountain, Fordo is heavily fortified, designed to withstand conventional airstrikes. While the IAEA has not reported destruction at the site, Israeli officials indicate they will continue their attacks.
Israeli strikes have also targeted the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. According to the IAEA, critical buildings at the Esfahan site sustained damage, though Iran’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority stated that off-site radiation levels remain unchanged.
In a recent update, the IAEA noted major damage to two Iranian centrifuge production facilities from Israeli strikes. However, Iran confirmed that its Bushehr nuclear plant has not been targeted.
Experts and watchdogs have repeatedly called for restraint, highlighting the dangers of a nuclear disaster. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned of serious implications for nuclear safety and international security. Experts cautioned about potential chemical or radiological contamination if strikes continue, particularly if critical facilities are compromised further.
If the attacks spread to other targets, the risk of mass civilian harm and radiological contamination increases, especially at Bushehr. A worst-case scenario involving strikes on operating reactors could trigger a regional nuclear emergency, undermining the global non-proliferation regime and potentially altering Iran’s nuclear doctrine.