Iran-US war: In a major escalation in the Iran-US war, the United States reportedly targeted a nuclear power plant Iran’s Khuzestan province, sparking fears of a potential nuclear radiation leak, even as Tehran responded with retaliatory missile and drone strikes on US allies in the region.
Is there risk of nuclear leakage in Iran?
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is investigating reports of an overnight attack on an under-construction nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province.
However, the UN nuclear watchdog stated that the strike is not believed to pose any radiological risk, as the facility does not contain any nuclear material.
“The facility is in the very early stages of construction and contained no nuclear material when last visited by the IAEA. While the reported attack is not believed to pose any radiological risk, DG Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterates call for military restraint in the vicinity of all nuclear-related sites,” it said in a post on X.
The agency added that it had contacted Iran and would provide further information as it became available.
What did Iran say about nuclear power plant attack?
Meanwhile, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, citing the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), said the Darkhovin nuclear power plant was struck at about 3:39 am local time.
“The terrorist and criminal regime of the US, which has no nature other than bullying and lawlessness, in an aggressive and brutal act contrary to international law, attacked the Darkhovin power plant site under construction – one of the symbols of the dignity and scientific self-sufficiency of the Iranian nation – with a number of projectiles,” the AEOI said.
IRGC says ships met accident on ‘unsafe’ route in Hormuz
In another development, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said four ships attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz via the “unsafe” southern route after switching off their navigation systems, met with an “accident” and halted.
The IRGC said the vessels acted “with the mischief and support of American terrorists”, adding that two ships were involved in an accident and stopped, while the remaining two did not continue on the route, IRIB reported.
The Guards reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iran’s “complete control” and reiterated that “not a single drop of oil, gas, or chemical fertiliser” would pass through the waterway without coordination and permission, warning that vessels choosing unsafe routes would “surely encounter an accident.”
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Report claims Mojtaba Khamenei not in Iran?
The escalation comes amid reports claiming that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is not currently in the country, and that a growing rift has emerged between hardline factions within the regime and the Iranian government.
Earlier on Saturday, Mojtaba Khamenei, in his latest message, asserted that the “Great Satan” United States has realised that its domination in the Middle East is a “naive fantasy”.
“The Great Satan–the criminal US–has now realised that the continuation of its trouble-free, domineering presence in the region is nothing but a naive fantasy,” Khamenei said.
First published on: Jul 20, 2026 12:04 AM IST
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