The Israeli army said on Thursday that it had struck a nuclear site in the Natanz area and struck the Arak reactor (now known as Khondab) as part of an ongoing air operation against Iranian targets, reports "Reuters".
According to an official statement from the Israeli military, the sites were related to the development of nuclear weapons, and the attack in Arak was specifically aimed at the nuclear reactor's containment structure - a key element in the possible production of plutonium.
Iranian media confirmed that air defenses had been activated around the Khondab facility and that two shells had fallen near it. Officials said on state television that an evacuation had taken place before the strikes, that there were no reports of radiation leaks or injuries, and that the extent of the damage had not been officially announced.
The Natanz nuclear plant, which was also hit by an Israeli air strike earlier this week, is a key element of Iran's nuclear program. It houses two uranium enrichment plants.
The Arak reactor, whose construction was partially suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal, has been completely deactivated by filling its core with concrete. However, Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it plans to put the reactor into operation in 2026.
Heavy-water reactors like the one at Arak pose a high risk of nuclear proliferation because they can easily produce plutonium, a key element for nuclear weapons. Iran continues to insist that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.