Israel Strikes Inactive Nuclear Reactor in Iran’s Arak
In a major escalation in the shadow conflict between Israel and Iran, the Israeli military has confirmed that it carried out overnight airstrikes targeting key nuclear-related sites inside Iran, including what it described as an "inactive nuclear reactor" in Arak. The strikes are said to have also included another hit on the Natanz nuclear facility—an area that has already seen repeated Israeli sabotage attempts in the past.
Iran's Arak heavy water reactor in Arak, 155 miles southwest of Tehran, capital of Iran.
According to a statement from the Israeli military, the operation involved around 40 fighter jets and drones, targeting multiple locations across Iran. The most significant strike was reportedly on the Arak heavy-water reactor, where Israeli forces hit the core seal structure—an essential component used in the process of plutonium production. This part of the reactor is considered vital for any future efforts to revive the facility for weapons-grade material development.
The Israeli army said the goal of this operation was to make the reactor permanently unusable for any future nuclear weapons-related activity. Although the Arak reactor has been inactive for several years, Israel believes it still poses a strategic risk if restored. The facility was initially developed in the early 2000s and designed to produce plutonium under the guise of medical research. Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal—also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—work on the site was halted and partially dismantled. However, following the collapse of the agreement after the U.S. withdrawal in 2018, Iran resumed parts of its nuclear program.
Adding to the operation’s scope, Israel also targeted a nuclear weapons development facility in Natanz—one of Iran's most fortified and sensitive nuclear sites. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed earlier that Israeli forces had successfully destroyed the main uranium enrichment infrastructure at Natanz. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has since confirmed that the site suffered direct hits, including damage to underground sections of the facility.
Iran, for its part, maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes and denies pursuing nuclear weapons. The Arak reactor, according to Tehran, was intended for the production of medical isotopes and heavy water for civilian research. Iran had previously informed the IAEA that it aimed to fully commission the reactor by 2026.
The strikes are the latest in a series of covert and overt actions taken by Israel to delay or destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities. With the Arak reactor already offline and under IAEA monitoring, the Israeli attack marks a shift from covert sabotage to open military confrontation—a move that could further inflame already heightened tensions in the region.
These developments come at a time when diplomacy between Iran and the West remains stalled, and military posturing has become more frequent. The Israeli attack sends a strong message, not only to Iran but also to the broader international community, that it is prepared to use force to prevent what it sees as an existential threat from a nuclear-armed Iran.
