Iranian authorities have alleged that the United States and Israel carried out an attack on the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, the country's primary nuclear site, on the morning of March 21, 2026. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, declared, “Following the criminal attacks by the United States and the usurping Zionist regime against our country, the Natanz enrichment complex was targeted this morning.” No radiation leaks or risk to nearby residents were reported.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it had been notified by Iran of the attack on Natanz and the Iranian assessment that no radiation was released. The agency stated it is investigating the report. The IAEA's communication on X reiterated Director General Rafael Grossi's call for restraint by the warring parties to prevent a nuclear accident.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz asserted that the intensity of strikes by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the US military against what he termed the “Iranian terror regime and the infrastructure on which it relies” would increase significantly this week. He claimed the attacks aim to “decapitate its commanders and destroy its strategic capabilities,” thereby eliminating all threats to Israeli and US interests in the region.
While US President Donald Trump purportedly stated he was considering “winding down” the offensive against Iran, Washington's recent announcement of deploying additional warships and Marines to the region casts doubt on whether the US administration genuinely intends to conclude its campaign in the near future.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Iranian leaders on Nowruz, emphasizing that “Moscow remains a loyal friend and reliable partner of Tehran in this difficult time,” according to a Kremlin statement. However, some Iranian sources have indicated that Moscow has provided limited assistance despite a strategic partnership agreement signed last year.
In retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the Diego Garcia joint US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean. The Wall Street Journal reported that neither missile hit the target: one failed in flight, and an interceptor was fired at the other from a US warship. The launch suggests Tehran possesses missiles with longer ranges than previously assessed.
Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry announced it intercepted 22 drones in the eastern part of the country overnight. Iran has targeted locations in Saudi Arabia and other neighboring Gulf states since the joint US-Israeli military operation began on February 28, heightening concerns of a global energy supply shock affecting key oil and gas exporters.
The European Union (EU) has urged member states to lower gas storage filling targets amid surging energy prices caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The Financial Times reported that Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen called for reducing the target to 80% of capacity, 10 percentage points below the bloc's official goals, “as early as possible in the filling season.” These measures were implemented following the energy crisis triggered by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The Israeli military stated it conducted a wave of strikes on “regime targets” in Tehran and targeted the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon's capital, Beirut. Hezbollah, in turn, claimed attacks on Israeli troops in six villages in southern Lebanon. The Hezbollah-Israel conflict has become the deadliest spillover of the US-Israeli war on Iran, resulting in over 1,000 deaths in Lebanon and the displacement of more than 1 million people.
Saudi Arabia condemned Israeli strikes on Syrian army camps as “aggression” that violates international law, calling on the international community to take action. Turkey's Foreign Ministry earlier described the Israeli attacks as a “dangerous escalation,” with Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait also issuing condemnations.
Source: www.dw.com