IAEA Confirms Israeli Strikes on Iran’s Under-Construction Nuclear Reactor

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed in an announcement late Thursday night (June 19, 2025) that Israel successfully struck the under-construction heavy water research reactor at Arak (now known as Khondab), along with adjacent facilities. The heavy water reactor, as initially designed, could have produced plutonium usable for nuclear weapons, despite Iran repeatedly asserting that its nuclear program is exclusively for non-military purposes. As part of the 2015 agreement with the West, the facility was redesigned, and the reactor core was removed and sealed. Iran had informed the IAEA that the reactor was expected to become operational in 2026. “The IAEA has information that the heavy water research reactor at Khondab (formerly Arak), which is under construction, was hit. It was not operational and did not contain nuclear material, so there were no radiological consequences,” stated a post by the International Atomic Energy Agency on X (formerly Twitter). Heavy water, also known as deuterium oxide, is used as a neutron moderator in the nuclear fission process, which releases heat within the reactor. In a previous post about the Israeli attack on Khondab, the IAEA mentioned it had no information suggesting the nearby heavy water production plant was hit. However, it later confirmed the strike. While initial damage to the adjacent heavy water production unit was not visible, it is now estimated that the main buildings of the installation, including the separation unit, were struck.