Natanz, Fordow, Bushehr: How Much Damage Has Israel Inflicted On Iran's Nuclear Programme?

Last Updated:June 19, 2025, 17:24 IST

As Israel expands its nuclear strikes on Iran, questions grow over how much damage has really been done to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Smoke rises following an Israeli attack in Tehran, Iran. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Israel’s military strikes against Iran took a concerning turn with back-to-back claims of strikes on two sensitive facilities. Iran claimed on Thursday that it struck the heavy water reactor in Arak and the civilian nuclear power plant at Bushehr.

Israel said the Arak reactor, once allegedly central to Iran’s plutonium ambitions, had been “neutralised."

But the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) countered that the site, still under construction and lacking nuclear material, showed no radiological effects.

The claim about Bushehr which is Iran’s only functioning civilian nuclear plant could mark a further escalation in hostilities between Tehran and Tel Aviv and Washington, if the US actively decides to enter the conflict.

Situated along the Gulf coast and staffed by Russian technicians, Bushehr had so far been spared. But Israel now says it targeted the facility along with Natanz and Isfahan in what it called its “longest-range mission yet".

An Israeli military spokesperson said on Thursday the military had struck nuclear sites in Bushehr, Isfahan and Natanz and continued to target additional facilities.

Bushehr is Iran’s only operating nuclear power plant. It uses Russian fuel that Russia then takes back when it is spent to reduce proliferation risk, according to a report by Reuters.

Amid these high-profile strikes, a deeper picture of the damage is beginning to emerge. Israel’s strikes on Iran have targeted several of its nuclear facilities as it claims the country is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, an accusation Tehran denies.

At Natanz, a key part of Iran’s uranium enrichment network, above-ground infrastructure, including power facilities, was destroyed, a report by news agency AFP said. The IAEA cited possible “direct impacts" on the underground halls where thousands of centrifuges operate.

At Fordow, another underground enrichment site, no damage was reported.

Isfahan suffered damage to four buildings: a central chemical lab, uranium conversion unit, a metal-processing facility under construction, and the Tehran reactor fuel manufacturing plant. Significant uranium stockpiles are believed to be located nearby.

Israel struck Iran’s underground uranium enrichment sites at the three aforementioned nuclear site, the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said, citing Iranian officials.

“If Iran managed to transfer significant quantities to secret facilities then the game is lost for Israel," Ali Vaez, the International Crisis Group’s Iran project director, according to news agency AFP.

The Tehran research reactor was not targeted.

“Israel can damage Iran’s nuclear programme… it is unlikely to be able to destroy it," Vaez said.

Does Israel Have The Bomb Or Will US Supply It?

The US has signalled that it could enter the conflict between US and Iran while simultaneously nudging its arch-rival to join nuclear talks.

The aim of the nuclear talks between Iran and Western powers is to limit Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons in exchange for relief from international sanctions. The negotiations seek to restore or update the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), ensuring Iran’s nuclear program remains peaceful while allowing oversight by international inspectors.

Kelsey Davenport, an expert with the Arms Control Association, also pointed out while speaking to AFP that destroying the fortified, bunkered facilities in Natanz and Fordow would require US military assistance.

Israel has urged the US to join it in its fight against Iran and has long sought access to the GBU-57A/B, a 30,000-pound bomb specifically designed to destroy heavily fortified underground facilities such as Iran’s Natanz or Fordow enrichment plants. The weapon can penetrate up to 200 feet of concrete before detonating, making it suited for targets buried deep beneath the surface.

The US has refused to sell the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) to Israel due to concerns over escalation and regional stability.

“There is very little risk that attacks on Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities would result in a harmful radiation release," Davenport said.

But an attack on the Bushehr plant could “have a serious impact on health and the environment", she was quoted as saying by the news agency.

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...

Read More

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News world Natanz, Fordow, Bushehr: How Much Damage Has Israel Inflicted On Iran's Nuclear Programme?