Israel-Hamas war, Gaza genocide

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Israel attacks Iran’s Arak heavy-water nuclear reactor: Report

The Reuters news agency, citing Iranian state television, reports that the Arak heavy-water reactor has been attacked in Iran. Earlier, the Israeli military issued threats to people living in the vicinity of the reactor to evacuate immediately.

Israel bombs near Khondab heavy water facility: Iranian media

An area near the heavy-water research reactor in Khondab, part of Iran’s nuclear programme, was hit by Israel, the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) reports.

Officials announced the facility was evacuated prior to the attack and there is no radiation risk, ISNA added. The research reactor was partially built and previously known as Arak, with Tehran informing the UN nuclear watchdog that it plans to operate the facility next year.

Israel’s military confirms attacking Arak reactor

In its latest update, Israel’s military says its fighter jets attacked dozens of sites across Iran overnight, including the Arak heavy water nuclear reactor. The military claims it specifically targeted “the structure of the reactor’s core seal, which is a key component in plutonium production”.

It also claims it hit what it called a “nuclear weapons development site” in Natanz and numerous factories that manufacture components needed for ballistic missiles.

What is the Arak heavy water reactor?

Here are some key facts about the facility:

• The Arak heavy water facility is located about 190km southwest of Tehran.
• Construction began in the early 2000s as part of Iran’s broader nuclear programme, quickly drawing significant international scrutiny.
• The site includes a heavy water production plant and the IR-40 reactor, originally designed with a 40MW thermal capacity. Heavy water moderation allows for research, isotope production and the generation of plutonium as a byproduct.
• International players – including the United Nations, European Union, and United States – have consistently expressed concerns that Arak could provide Iran with a plutonium route to nuclear weapons.
• Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to redesign and repurpose the reactor for peaceful uses and limit plutonium output, while heavy water sales were permitted under oversight.

‘All necessary options on the table’, warns Iran’s deputy FM

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has issued another warning to the US against direct military intervention.

In comments carried by Reuters news agency, Gharibabadi said Iran does not want the conflict to expand, but is ready to act and “teach aggressors a lesson” if necessary. Iran’s military decision-makers have “all necessary options on the table”, he said.

Iranian atomic organisation denounces Israeli attack on Khondab

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has condemned Israel’s attack on the Shahid Khondab (also known as Arak) heavy water complex and its research reactor.

“In continued violation of international laws that explicitly prohibit attacks on nuclear facilities, the Zionist enemy launched an assault this morning targeting the Shahid Khondab heavy water complex and its research reactor,” the organisation said in a statement.

It added that no casualties have been reported and that “due to preemptive safety measures taken beforehand, there is no threat or harm posed to residents in the vicinity of the mentioned site”.

The organisation said: “It is worth noting that the recent threats and aggressions by the criminal Zionist regime had previously been reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on several occasions, but regrettably, no action was taken by the Agency.

“Nonetheless, this morning’s assault has also been reported to the IAEA.”