The United Nations atomic energy watchdog reported on Saturday that Iran's nuclear program, a subject of international dispute, remained unaffected by Israel's lethal air assault on its arch-rival's military installations.
"Iran's nuclear facilities have not been impacted," stated International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi on X, emphasizing the need for "prudence and restraint from actions that could jeopardize the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive materials."
Israel claimed it targeted military sites in Iran early on Saturday in response to Tehran's attacks on Israel earlier this month, marking the latest episode in the intensifying conflict between the heavily armed adversaries. Iranian media documented multiple explosions over several hours in the capital and at nearby military bases, commencing shortly after 2am (2230 GMT on Friday).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Saturday that Israel had selected the targets in Iran based on its national interests, not influenced by directives from the US. Netanyahu's office issued this statement in reaction to a "completely false" local television report alleging that Israel had refrained from striking Iranian gas and oil facilities due to US pressure.
Following Israel's deadly retaliatory strikes on military targets across Iran on Saturday, the US, Britain, and the European Union called for "de-escalation." Muslim countries and Russia, meanwhile, blamed Israel for exacerbating the conflict. The UAE has strongly condemned Israel's attack on Iran, expressing "deep concern" over the ongoing escalation and its implications for regional security and stability. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) underscored "the importance of exercising utmost self-restraint" to mitigate risks and prevent the escalation of the conflict.
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