IAEA confirms damage to research nuclear reactor in Iran
Photo: IAEA confirms damage to Iran's nuclear reactor (Getty Images)
The IAEA confirmed that during Israel's recent strikes on Iran, a heavy water research reactor located in Khondab (formerly Arak) was damaged.
They noted that the facility is currently under construction, is not operational, and does not contain nuclear material, so there is no threat of radiation contamination.
"AEA has information the Khondab (former Arak) heavy water research reactor, under construction, was hit. It was not operational and contained no nuclear material, so no radiological effects," the agency said in a statement.
The IAEA also added that it currently has no information that would indicate that the heavy water plant in Khondab was affected.
On the night of Thursday, June 19, 40 Israeli Air Force fighters conducted a large-scale air operation in Iran.
One of the main strikes was the attack on the nuclear reactor in Khondab. The planes destroyed the protective structure of the facility, which is considered critical for the production of plutonium, a material that can be used in the creation of nuclear weapons.
A facility in Natanz, which Israel claims is involved in the development of nuclear weapons, was also attacked.
The IDF believes that unique parts and equipment were stored there that could be used to accelerate Iran's nuclear program.
Earlier, at least four important infrastructure buildings, including a uranium processing plant and a fuel plate manufacturing facility, were damaged in an attack on the Isfahan nuclear facility.
Meanwhile, CNN, citing US intelligence, wrote that Iran was not actively developing nuclear weapons and was at least three years away from being able to create them.
