IAEA probes overnight attack on Iran's Darkhovin plant

The United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Sunday, July 19, 2026, that it is investigating reports of an overnight attack on a nuclear power plant under construction in southern Iran, as tensions between Iran and the United States escalated into a new round of military strikes. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated it was looking into the incident at the Darkhovin plant in Khuzestan province, noting the facility was in early construction stages and contained no nuclear material, posing no radiological risk.

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization accused the U.S. military of carrying out the strike with multiple projectiles around 3:39 a.m. local time on Sunday, describing it as a brutal act contrary to international law. The U.S. military has not publicly confirmed striking the nuclear site. Unconfirmed reports suggested the site was hit by at least three missiles, with some speculation that Gulf Arab states could have been responsible.

The reported attack on the plant, which has faced years of delays and was only officially under construction since March 2026, occurred amidst a broader U.S. military campaign targeting Iranian infrastructure. U.S. Central Command stated its...