Iran Confirms Airstrike at Natanz Nuclear Facility; No Radiation Leakage Reported

Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was struck in an airstrike on Saturday, the official Iranian news agency Mizan reported, marking another escalation as the Middle East conflict enters its fourth week. Authorities said no radiation leakage occurred.

Natanz, Iran’s primary nuclear enrichment site located about 220 kilometres southeast of Tehran, had previously been targeted in the first week of the war, and satellite images showed damage to several buildings. The facility has also been attacked in past conflicts, including Israeli strikes during the June 2025 Iran-Israel war and U.S. operations.

The latest strike follows escalating tensions in the region after a series of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. Iranian missiles continued to target Israel early Saturday, while Saudi Arabia reported downing 20 drones in its eastern region, home to major oil installations. Israel also launched strikes against Hezbollah militants in southern Beirut, causing fires and explosions in multiple neighborhoods. According to the Lebanese government, Israeli strikes have killed over 1,000 people and displaced more than one million, while the Iran conflict has resulted in over 1,300 deaths in Iran, 15 in Israel, and 13 U.S. military casualties.

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In the United States, President Donald Trump has issued mixed messages, stating on social media that the U.S. is “very close to meeting our objectives” and may “wind down” military operations in the Middle East, even as the Pentagon deploys three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2,500 Marines to the region. The U.S. is now sustaining more than 50,000 troops in the Middle East, with additional funding requested from Congress to continue operations.

Iran’s top military spokesperson, Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, warned that “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” worldwide could be targeted, raising concerns about possible attacks beyond the Middle East. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei praised Iranian resilience during the Persian New Year, Nowruz, which this year was overshadowed by ongoing conflict.

The war has also fueled global energy uncertainty. Brent crude oil prices have surged to around $106 per barrel, up from roughly $70 before the conflict. In a bid to ease fuel price pressures, the U.S. announced a temporary pause on sanctions for Iranian oil already loaded on ships, effective until April 19, although this does not increase actual supply.

The conflict shows no signs of abating, with Israel, Iran, and allied forces continuing airstrikes, drone attacks, and missile launches, keeping the Middle East on edge while sending ripple effects through global energy markets.

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