The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Iran's Khondab Heavy Water Plant has sustained severe damage and is no longer operational following Israeli strikes.
The IAEA stated that its assessment was based on independent analysis of satellite imagery and technical knowledge of the facility.
The Khondab Heavy Water Plant, located near Arak in central Iran, has long been a focal point of international concern due to its potential role in nuclear development.
The UN nuclear watchdog stated that the installation contains no declared nuclear material.
The Israeli military claimed that the plant produces heavy water, a substance used in certain types of nuclear reactors, including the Arak reactor, which it claimed was originally designed with the capability to produce weapons-grade plutonium.
The Israeli military alleged that Iran had not fully converted the reactor to prevent plutonium production.
The strike was part of an operation referred to as 'Rising Lion' and comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with increasing scrutiny over Iran's nuclear activities and Israel's stated policy of preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities.
