Arak heavy water reactor was damaged by Israeli strike, says IAEA

Israeli military strikes hit Iran’s Khondab Heavy Water Research Reactor, a project under construction that had not begun operating, and damaged the nearby plant that makes heavy water, the UN nuclear watchdog says.

Israel has struck several nuclear facilities in Iran. The heavy water reactor, as originally designed, would have been able to easily produce plutonium that could eventually have been used in a nuclear weapon, though Iran denies seeking such weapons.

Under a 2015 deal with major powers, however, the plant was redesigned to reduce the proliferation risk, and its core was removed and filled with concrete. Iran had informed the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency that the reactor would start operation in 2026.

“IAEA has information that 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 IAEA says in a post on X.

“While damage to the nearby Heavy Water Production Plant was initially not visible, it is now assessed that key buildings at the facility were damaged, including the distillation unit,” the IAEA statement says.