The United States struck the Darkhovin nuclear power plant site in southwestern Iran early Sunday, expanding its military campaign to a facility under construction, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said. The 300-megawatt plant in Khuzestan province, under construction since 2022 at an estimated cost of up to $2 billion, was in the very early stages of building and posed no radiological risk when hit, the International Atomic Energy Agency said after confirming it was investigating the attack.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called on all parties to refrain from targeting nuclear facilities. The Darkhovin strike was part of a new wave of U.S. bombardments launched to punish Iran for the July 17 attack in Jordan that killed two American service members, after previous airstrikes targeted bridges, airports and rail junctions.
Iran's military responded by launching explosive drones at two military bases in Kuwait in retaliation for the American strikes.