Iran on Sunday (July 19) claimed that the US military struck the site of a nuclear power plant under construction in Darkhovin, in the country’s southwest. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation condemned the alleged attack and called it a violation of international law.
The claim comes amid a sharp escalation in US-Iran hostilities in recent days, following the collapse of a memorandum of understanding the two countries had signed in mid-June to end an earlier war. US President Donald Trump has said he “couldn’t care less” about Iran’s decision to step back from that agreement.
“US forces, in an aggressive and brutal act contrary to international law, attacked the under-construction Darkhovin nuclear power plant… with a number of projectiles on Sunday,” the organisation said in a statement carried by state TV.
Construction of the nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, in southwestern Iran’s Khuzestan province, began in 2022. As of this report, US Central Command had not responded to requests for comment on the specific claim regarding the Darkhovin site.
International Atomic Energy Agency reiterates call for military restraint
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) responded to the reported attack, saying there was no nuclear material present when its members last visited the site.
“The IAEA is looking into reports of an overnight attack on the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, Iran. The facility is in the very early stages of construction and contained no nuclear material when last visited by the IAEA.”
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“While the reported attack is not believed to pose any radiological risk, DG @rafaelmgrossi reiterates call for military restraint in the vicinity of all nuclear-related sites,” the IAEA said further.
‘Oil tankers ignored warnings’
Meanwhile, the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said Sunday that four oil tankers ignored warnings, turned off their navigation systems, and attempted to cause “disruption” in the strait by passing through an unsafe route with US support. This, the IRGC said, led to two of the vessels meeting with an accident, after which they were stopped, while the other two were dissuaded from continuing their route.
The IRGC once again claimed that the strait is completely under its control, and that the only secure route for transiting the waterway is the one designated by Iran.
A day earlier, on Saturday, the IRGC claimed that two unidentified oil tankers had exploded after hitting mines while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Central Command responded on X: “Like most IRGC claims, this is false.” Iran also says it “stopped” four more ships attempting to pass through the strait. Neither claim has been independently verified, as the vital shipping route remains effectively closed amid a week of escalating US-Iran strikes.
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