Iran nuclear site 'struck by US and Israel' as Middle East on brink

Arak nuclear facility (Image: Getty)

Iran has claimed that part of its Arak nuclear facility has been struck by US and Israeli forces. Iranian state media said the Khondab heavy water reactor was hit in two separate strikes, but claimed there were no casualties.

A political and security deputy in Iran’s Markazi Province said the Khondab Heavy Water Complex was targeted in two stages by what he described as "American and Zionist enemy" attacks. He added: "These attacks did not result in any human casualties and, due to safety measures that had been put in place in advance, there is no danger threatening the people of the area," in a statement published on the Telegram channel of Fars News Agency. The IR-40 reactor, also known as the Khondab Heavy Water Research Reactor, is part of Iran's Arak nuclear complex near the city of Arak. The 40-megawatt facility, located alongside a heavy water production plant built in the 1990s, was rendered inoperable in 2015 after its core was removed and filled with concrete under the nuclear deal.