After Israel threatened to "escalate and expand" its attacks, Iran said its nuclear facilities were hit, but "no radioactive materials leaked"
According to Iranian state media, Iran's nuclear facilities were attacked on Friday, March 27, just hours after Israel threatened to "escalate and expand" its operations against Tehran. Iran swiftly threatened retaliation, while Israel claimed responsibility for the strike.
As reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the attack affected a heavy water plant and a uranium concentrate (yellowcake) production facility. Yellowcake is concentrated uranium obtained after removing impurities from raw ore, and heavy water serves as a neutron moderator in nuclear reactors. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran stated that the Shahid Houdabandeh heavy water complex near Arak and the Ardakan yellowcake production plant in Yazd Province were targeted. This plant produces uranium concentrate, a precursor step in uranium enrichment. The agency said there were no casualties and that "no radioactive materials leaked."
Israel's military issued a statement claiming it had struck multiple Iranian targets, including "missile production capabilities, remnants of the nuclear program infrastructure, and terrorist regime targets." The Israeli military emphasized that "the IDF attacked Iran’s sole facility producing materials required for uranium enrichment" and added that Israel "will not allow Iran to advance its nuclear weapons program."
Iran's Press TV also reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it would retaliate for the attack on its nuclear facilities. General Seyed Majid Mousavi, commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s Space Force, posted on social platform X: "Employees linked to companies associated with the U.S. and Israel should leave their workplaces. You once tested us; the world now sees you playing with fire and attacking infrastructure. This time, the equation will no longer be 'an eye for an eye'—wait patiently."
The construction of the Arak heavy water reactor began in the 2000s. Officially, its purpose was to produce plutonium for medical research. However, under the 2015 Vienna Nuclear Deal, the project was frozen. The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018. The reactor core has been removed and encased in concrete, rendering it non-operational.
The facility had previously been bombed by Israeli airstrikes during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, when the U.S. also conducted bombing raids. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that the heavy water production plant "was damaged" and has since been "not fully operational," though the agency has been unable to conduct inspections at the site since May 2025.
Volatility in financial markets and global economic turmoil have intensified pressure on Trump, while access to the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain. At the time of the attack, President Trump claimed negotiations toward ending the war were progressing smoothly and gave Tehran more time to open the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has yet to show any concessions.
Currently, the U.S. has proposed a ceasefire plan containing 15 clauses, demanding Iran relinquish control over the strait and deploy thousands of additional troops to the region—possibly preparing for military action to remove Iranian control. Trump stated that if Iran does not reopen the strait by April 6, he will order the destruction of Iran’s energy infrastructure. On Thursday, he said negotiations to end the conflict were "going very well." Yet Iran insists it has not participated in any talks.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1860868881031168/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.