The Arak nuclear complex, about 280 km from the Iran’s capital Tehran, includes a heavy water reactor (IR-40) and heavy water production plant. Heavy water reactor uses deuterium oxide to control nuclear reactions, making plutoniums as a by-product, which can be used for nuclear weapons. Iran claims that this facility is for peaceful purposes such as medical isotopes, but its ability to make weapons-grade plutonium has increased concern.
On June 19, 2025, Israel attacked the Araq reactor, which was targeted for plutonium production, so that it could not be used in the development of nuclear weapons. The Israeli army had previously warned of evacuation of nearby residents, and Iranian government TV reported that the facility was vacated before the attack, so there was no radiation threat. The attack occurred after the growing tension, when Iran turned down the US demand for surrender and carried out a counter -missile attacks on Israel.
International agencies, such as IAEA, appealed to Israel not to attack nuclear sites, as it could increase the expansion risk. The reactor, which was partially built, was scheduled to start in 2026, although Iran committed to re -design it to limit the plutonium production under the 2015 nuclear deal, with Britain’s aid after the US had withdrawn from the US agreement in 2018.
