The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that it is investigating reports concerning an attack in the early hours of Sunday, July 19, targeting the construction site of the Darkhovin nuclear power plant in Khuzestan Province. The UN nuclear watchdog emphasized that the facility was in the preliminary stages of construction and contained no nuclear material at the time of its most recent inspection.
The statement followed an announcement by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), which claimed that the United States had targeted the Darkhovin plant’s construction site with multiple projectiles at approximately 3:39 AM. The AEOI condemned the strike, calling it “contrary to international law.”
The “Karun” power plant in Darkhovin is a 300-megawatt pressurized light-water reactor project, construction of which commenced in December 2022. According to previous announcements by the AEOI, the plant is being built on a 50-hectare plot adjacent to the Karun River, near the city of Darkhovin in Shadegan County.
The IAEA’s confirmation that no nuclear material was present at the site is crucial for assessing the attack’s potential fallout, as it rules out the risk of radioactive contamination. Nonetheless, the agency stated that its investigation into the details of the incident is ongoing.
