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By John Feng and Shane Croucher
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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had struck an inactive nuclear reactor among dozens of targets in Iran, primarily in its capital, Tehran. Forty Israel Air Force jets were involved in the strikes overnight into Thursday, June 19, the IDF said.
"As part of the strikes, and as part of the broad effort to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon, the nuclear reactor in the area of Arak in Iran was targeted, including the structure of the reactor's core seal, which is a key component in plutonium production," the IDF said in a statement.
"Construction of the reactor began in 1997 but was not completed due to international community intervention. The reactor was originally intended for the production of weapons-grade plutonium, capable of enabling the development of nuclear weapons."
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The IDF said its strike "targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development."
Iran says it is not trying to build a nuclear weapon. It says its nuclear program is intended for civilian energy purposes and has accused Israel of a "war of aggression".
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) confirmed the attack on a nuclear facility in Arak. It said a research reactor and the Shohadaye Khandab Heavy Water Complex had been hit.
In a statement reported by Iranian state media, the AEOI said there were no casualties and "no danger or harm to the residents of the area".
More Israeli Strikes
The Israeli military also said it had struck "a nuclear weapons development site in the area of Natanz".
"The site contained components and specialized equipment used to advance nuclear weapons development, and projects designed to accelerate the regime's nuclear program were hosted there," the IDF said.
Israel also struck "military production sites" for making ballistic missiles and air defense systems, as well as "air defense batteries, surface-to-surface missile storage sites, detection radar systems, and detection equipment belonging to the Iranian regime".
'Brink of a Catastrophe'
Iranian missiles overnight hit residential areas and a hospital in Israel, causing dozens of injuries. Iran says it was targeting IDF buildings nearby.
U.S. President Donald Trump has approved plans to strike Iran, but has yet to give the final order. He is urging Iran to make a deal that abandons its nuclear program altogether, ending the conflict, before it is too late to avert strikes.
Russia warned Israel it is on the "brink of a catastrophe" by targeting nuclear sites in Iran and told its leadership "to come to its senses and immediately stop attacks on nuclear installations".
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