by Admin
21/6/2025
An Israeli airstrike targeted a key nuclear facility in Iran’s Isfahan province early Saturday morning thereby escalating tensions between the two nations as their conflict entered its second week.
Iranian authorities confirmed the strike but reported no casualties or radiation leaks.
Social media footage released by Israeli air forces showed smoke rising from the mountainous area near the Isfahan site, which is used for uranium conversion.
Israel’s military said its air force targeted both the main facility and nearby buildings associated with centrifuge production.
“This is the nuclear facility in Isfahan, which plays a central role in Iran’s uranium conversion process, a step towards producing nuclear weapons,” said Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee. “We continue striking the Iranian nuclear project.”
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that a centrifuge manufacturing workshop at the Isfahan site was hit.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated the facility did not contain nuclear materials, meaning there were “no radiological consequences” from the strike.
The Isfahan attack marks the second such airstrike on the city in a week.
According to Iran’s health ministry, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 430 people and injured nearly 3,500 across the country since hostilities began on June 13.
Iran’s Deputy Health Minister Ali Jafarian said emergency teams are on standby in case of future nuclear-related incidents.
“There are no current reports of unconventional weapons use, but we are prepared to respond to any potential nuclear leaks,” he said.
Iranian media also reported that Israeli forces struck a military installation in Shiraz, located in the southern Fars province.
On the Israeli side, the conflict has also intensified. Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv, with falling debris from intercepted Iranian missiles sparking fires.
In central Israel, emergency services responded to a blaze on the roof of a high-rise residential building.
Local authorities say at least 24 people have been killed in Iranian missile strikes, the deadliest cross-border exchange between the two nations in decades.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the killing of Saeed Izadi, a senior commander of the Quds Force’s Palestine Corps, in an Israeli strike on an apartment in the Iranian city of Qom.
Izadi was reportedly instrumental in supplying Hamas with weapons and funds before its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Israel called his death a “major intelligence and operational success.” Iranian media confirmed five members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed in recent Israeli strikes, but did not mention Izadi.
The current conflict between the two countries began when Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, claiming it struck to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran responded with missile strikes across Israeli territory.
Despite the escalation, Iran has been engaged in negotiations with the U.S. aimed at limiting its uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.
Both the IAEA and U.S. intelligence agencies have said there is no conclusive evidence that Iran is actively building a nuclear bomb. However, Iran’s uranium enrichment has exceeded levels needed for civilian energy production.