Think tank finds intact Natanz bunker that could sustain Iran's uranium enrichment

A new report from the Institute for Science and International Security says a distinct, partially buried building at Iran’s Natanz nuclear complex was likely intended as a uranium-hexafluoride storage bunker to aid large-scale enrichment. Constructed chiefly between 2015 and 2017, the structure was not hit during the U.S.-Israeli campaigns of 2025 (Operation Midnight Hammer) and 2026 (Operation Epic Fury), and satellite imagery shows no vehicle movement there after June 2025.

The institute warns that any temporary enrichment moratorium must require the demolition of remaining capabilities, citing the bunker as evidence of ongoing work. United Against Nuclear Iran’s policy director Jason Brodsky questioned why the site was omitted from prior strikes and urged its destruction in future operations. IAEA spokesperson Fredrik Dahl confirmed the agency had inspected the building before mid-2025, while White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly reiterated that Iran’s nuclear facilities were destroyed and that economic pressure is intensifying. The findings raise doubts about the completeness of past attacks and the effectiveness of the JCPOA framework.