Heavy water reactor hit: USA and Israel attacked Iranian nuclear facilities

According to the Iranian nuclear agency, another attack was directed against a production facility for “Yellowcake”, the raw material for the production of fuel elements, in Ardakan in central Iran. State broadcaster IRIB reported that no radioactive substances were released. The Iranian nuclear agency said there was no damage in either attack – the information could not be independently verified.

The heavy water research reactor near the city of Arak was hit last year when Israel and the USA attacked Iranian nuclear facilities. At that time, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) made it clear that the research reactor was still under construction and therefore no nuclear material was present there.

Israel confirms attack

The Israeli military confirmed the attack and justified it as Iran’s repeated attempts to rebuild after the destruction last year. “The Israeli army will not allow the Iranian terrorist regime to continue its efforts to advance its nuclear weapons program, which poses an existential threat to the State of Israel and the entire world,” a military spokesman said.

The USA also states that one of the war aims is to prevent Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons. Tehran denies developing nuclear weapons.

IAEA urges restraint

The IAEA later said it had been informed by Iran of the attack on the Ardakan facility. Director General Raffael Grossi is once again calling on the parties to the conflict to exercise restraint in order to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident, it said.

Days ago, the USA and Israel attacked the heavily secured Natanz nuclear factory, which consists of above-ground and underground facilities for uranium enrichment. US President Donald Trump has named the destruction of Iran’s nuclear program as one of the goals of the war that has been going on for around four weeks.

More than 20 dead in attacks on residential complexes

According to media reports, more than 20 civilians were killed in attacks on residential areas in the Iranian capital Tehran and the Kurdish province of Kermanshah. In Tehran, ten residents of an apartment complex in the Shahr-e Rey district died in a rocket attack by American-Israeli forces, the state news agency Irna reported, citing a fire department spokesman.

According to the governor’s office, more than ten residential units were attacked in the western city of Kermanshah. 13 people were killed, including 2 children and 4 women.

There were also attacks on the two steelworks in Isfahan in central Iran and Ahwas in southwest Iran. Parts of the power supply systems and a workshop in the two factories were reportedly damaged. Accordingly, there was one dead and two injured in Isfahan. The exact extent of the attacks will be announced once the investigation has been completed.

Tehran threatens to attack US soldiers’ hotels

Iran threatened further attacks on US targets in the Gulf region. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards called on civilians in the region on Friday to stay away from US facilities. The army threatened to attack hotels that accommodate US soldiers.