The Israel Defense Forces issued a statement on the 3rd, indicating that the Israeli military struck a "secret" underground nuclear weapons research facility in Iran.
The statement said that the Israeli military targeted multiple objectives involved in a nuclear weapons program affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense and destroyed the related facilities.
The statement noted that after Iran's nuclear-related activities suffered severe damage, the facilities were relocated to an underground location capable of withstanding airstrikes, where nuclear weapons research continued.
The statement added that at this site, a group of nuclear scientists secretly worked on developing key components of nuclear weapons. The Israeli military intelligence department continued to track these scientists' activities, pinpointed the facility's location, and carried out a precision strike, "eliminating a crucial link in Iran's development of nuclear weapons."
No Evidence Iran Is Building Nuclear Weapons
On the 3rd, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Grossi said on social media that there is no evidence Iran is building nuclear weapons.
However, he stated that Iran's stockpiling of large amounts of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium and refusal to grant IAEA inspectors full access has caused serious concern.
A day earlier, Grossi said at a press conference he had not found any systematic nuclear weapons manufacturing program in Iran.
Natanz Nuclear Facility 'Recently Damaged'
The IAEA stated on the 3rd that Iran's Natanz nuclear facility was "recently damaged."
The IAEA said on social media: "Based on the latest satellite images, the IAEA can now confirm that the entrance to the underground fuel enrichment plant at Natanz was recently damaged."
The agency stated, "No radiological consequences are expected."
On June 21, 2025, the United States launched the 'Midnight Hammer' strike operation against Iran, with the Natanz nuclear facility as one of the U.S. military's targets.
According to Iran's news agency on the 2nd, Mohammad Eslami, president of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said that the United States and Israel launched two attacks on the Natanz nuclear facility in Isfahan Province, central Iran, on the night of the 1st.