US forces launched a strike against Iran’s under-construction Darkhovin nuclear power plant early Sunday morning, according to the Atomic Energy Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The AEOI said multiple projectiles hit the site in Khuzestan province, marking another escalation in what has become a sustained campaign against Iranian nuclear infrastructure.
What happened at Darkhovin
The Darkhovin site was planned to house a domestically built reactor with a capacity of 300 to 360 MW. Construction has been a slow, troubled affair. China previously withdrew its reactor designs for the project, and the facility has faced years of delays even before becoming a military target.
The AEOI’s statement confirmed the strike occurred on July 19, 2026, which corresponds to 28 Tir on the Iranian calendar. The organization described the attack as involving “multiple projectiles” from the US military, though it did not elaborate on the extent of damage or casualties.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. The strike fits into a pattern of US and Israeli military operations targeting Iranian nuclear facilities that has been escalating since at least mid-2025.
