Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) stated that U.S. forces struck the Darkhovin nuclear power plant site in Khuzestan Province, in the southwest of Iran, yesterday at 3:39 a.m. local time, as reported by Anadolu Agency. A 300-megawatt pressurized water reactor, being built at the site adjacent to the Karun River under IAEA safeguards, is in its 4th year of construction. IAEO declared the strike to be “contrary to international law” and reported it to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It has been reported U.S. President Trump has recently been presented with military options that included hitting Iran’s power plants in general, but also nuclear sites—supposedly to bury uranium stockpiles even deeper. The U.S. so far has not commented on a strike upon the Darkhovin facility.
The IAEA announced that it was investigating the report and added that the plant has not yet entered the actual operational phase nor has it loaded nuclear fuel. It reported that, at its latest inspection, there was no active nuclear material at the site at this point.
