Dubai | The International Atomic Energy Agency said Tuesday that it now believes Israeli airstrikes on Iran's Natanz enrichment site had “direct impacts” on the facility's underground centrifuge halls.

This marks the first time the United Nations' nuclear watchdog has assessed damage from the strikes in the underground parts of Natanz, which is the main enrichment facility of Iran's nuclear programme.

“Based on continued analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery collected after Friday's attacks, the IAEA has identified additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls at Natanz," the agency said.

Already, an above-ground enrichment hall had been destroyed, as well as electrical equipment that powered the facility.