Israel attacked multiple Iranian nuclear and military sites, escalating tensions over Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. This comes one day after the International Atomic Energy Agency censured Iran for non-cooperation, prompting Iran to announce plans for a new enrichment site and more advanced centrifuges. The article details key Iranian nuclear facilities and their significance in Tehran's program.
What to know about Iran’s nuclear sites
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Israel attacked multiple Iranian nuclear and military sites, escalating tensions over Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. This comes one day after the International Atomic Energy Agency censured Iran for non-cooperation, prompting Iran to announce plans for a new enrichment site and more advanced centrifuges. The article details key Iranian nuclear facilities and their significance in Tehran's program.
Trending- 1 1967: The U.S. provided the Tehran Research Reactor to Iran.
- 2 Mid-1970s: Construction began on the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
- 3 1979: The Islamic Revolution occurred in Iran.
- 4 At least 2007: Construction began on the Fordo enrichment facility.
- 5 2009: Iran informed the IAEA about the Fordo facility.
- 6 2015: Iran agreed to redesign the Arak facility under its nuclear deal with world powers.
- 7 Thursday (June 12, 2025): The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors censured Iran.
- 8 Friday (June 13, 2025): Israel attacked multiple Iranian nuclear and military sites.
- Tensions between Israel and Iran reached new heights due to the attacks.
- Iran's nuclear program is rapidly advancing, with plans for a new enrichment site and more advanced centrifuges.
- The IAEA's censure of Iran highlights ongoing concerns about its nuclear activities.
- The attacks could disrupt ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran regarding sanctions relief and uranium enrichment limits.
- The potential for nuclear proliferation remains a significant international concern.
What: Israel attacked multiple Iranian nuclear and military sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors censured Iran for the first time in 20 years for not cooperating with its inspectors. In response, Iran immediately announced it would establish a third enrichment site and swap out some centrifuges for more-advanced ones. The U.S. and Iran had been in talks that could have resulted in the U.S. lifting some economic sanctions in exchange for Iran limiting or ending uranium enrichment. The article details key Iranian nuclear sites: Natanz enrichment facility (main enrichment site, underground, targeted by Stuxnet virus and sabotage attacks), Fordo enrichment facility (smaller, buried under a mountain, protected by anti-aircraft batteries), Bushehr nuclear power plant (only commercial plant, fueled by Russian uranium, monitored by UN IAEA), Arak heavy water reactor (produces plutonium, redesigned under 2015 nuclear deal), Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center (research reactors, laboratories), and Tehran Research Reactor (provided by US in 1967, later retrofitted).
When: Israel attacked on Friday (implied June 13, 2025). The IAEA censured Iran on Thursday (implied June 12, 2025), marking the first time in 20 years. Fordo's construction began at least in 2007, with Iran informing the IAEA in 2009. Bushehr's construction began in the mid-1970s and was completed by Russia after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Tehran Research Reactor was provided by the U.S. in 1967. Iran agreed to redesign the Arak facility under its 2015 nuclear deal.
Where: The Israeli attacks occurred in Iran, with explosions booming across Tehran. Key Iranian nuclear sites are located at Natanz (220 km southeast of Tehran, on Iran’s Central Plateau, near Kūh-e Kolang Gaz Lā), Fordo (100 km southwest of Tehran), Bushehr (on the Persian Gulf, 750 km south of Tehran), Arak (250 km southwest of Tehran), Isfahan (350 km southeast of Tehran), and Tehran (Tehran Research Reactor at the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran headquarters).
Why: Israeli leaders stated the attack was necessary to head off what they claimed was an imminent threat of Iran building nuclear bombs. Iran insists its program is peaceful, and U.S. intelligence agencies assess Tehran is not actively pursuing the bomb. The IAEA censured Iran for not cooperating with its inspectors. Iran announced new enrichment plans in response to the censure. The Fordo facility is designed to withstand airstrikes due to its underground location. The Arak heavy water reactor is a proliferation concern because it produces plutonium, which can be used in nuclear weapons.
How: Israel conducted attacks on multiple sites, causing explosions. The IAEA censure was issued by its Board of Governors. Iran responded by announcing plans for a new enrichment site and advanced centrifuges. Natanz has been targeted by the Stuxnet virus and two sabotage attacks attributed to Israel. The Bushehr plant is fueled by Russian uranium and monitored by the UN IAEA. The Arak facility was redesigned under the 2015 nuclear deal. The Tehran Research Reactor was initially provided by the U.S. and later retrofitted.