People wait for transportation to the city center after crossing from Iran into Turkey at the Kapikoy Border Gate in eastern Van province on Monday — Reuters VIENNA, Mar 02 (AP/AFP): Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday alleged that airstrikes by the United States and Israel targeted the Natanz enrichment facility in his country.
That contradicts an assessment by the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi who said that "up to now" the agency has "no indication" that nuclear facilities have been hit in Iran.
"Again they attacked Iran's peaceful safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday. Their justification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply a big lie," Reza Najafi told reporters at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, where a special session of the Board of Governors is being held at the request of Russia.
When asked by a reporter which nuclear facility he was referring to, Najafi replied "Natanz."
The Natanz site, some 220 kilometers (135 miles) south of the capital, is a mix of above- and below-ground laboratories that did the majority of Iran's uranium enrichment.
War widens to include
Iran-backed militias
The U.S. military said on Monday that Kuwait "mistakenly shot down" thee American F-15E Strike Eagles during a combat mission as Iran attacked the country.
The U.S. military's Central Command said the combat included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones-the first time Iran's aging combat fleet has been engaged in the war.
"The U.S. Air Force fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses," it said. "All six aircrew ejected safely, have been safely recovered, and are in stable condition. Kuwait has acknowledged this incident, and we are grateful for the efforts of the Kuwaiti defense forces and their support in this ongoing operation."
Afghanistan condemns
US-Israeli attacks on Iran
Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi has condemned recent attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran during a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Expressing deep concern over escalating regional tensions, Muttaqi denounced the aggression against Iran and extended condolences to the Iranian government and people over the targeting of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the statement.
China calls for ceasefire,
diplomacy to end conflict
China called on Monday for a ceasefire and diplomatic talks to end the conflict in the Middle East as it stretched into a third day.
Israel and the United States have been conducting strikes on Iran and Lebanon, with the conflict extending to regional neighbours.
"The most urgent task is an immediate cessation of military operations and preventing a spread and spillover of conflict," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference, urging "a resolution through dialogue and negotiation".
US warplanes shot by
'friendly fire' in Kuwait
Black smoke rose from the US embassy in Kuwait on Monday, an AFP correspondent saw, while Kuwait mistakenly shot down US warplanes causing no casualties, as Iran pressed on with a third day of Gulf retaliation.
A US base and a power station were also targeted, in what was the most dramatic escalation for the small Gulf country in decades, after the 2003 US invasion of Iraq and Baghdad's attempt to take over Kuwait in 1990.
Blasts also rang out over the Gulf cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and Manama as Iran targets the United States' Gulf allies after the killing of its supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes.
"There is a continuing threat of missile and UAV (drone) attacks over Kuwait. Do not come to the embassy," the statement said, adding: "US embassy personnel are sheltering in place."
The Iranian attacks have so far killed five people in the Gulf, according to authorities, including one person in Kuwait.
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