Iran announces new nuclear enrichment site after UN watchdog censure

Iran announced on Thursday that it has constructed and will soon activate a third nuclear enrichment facility, escalating tensions with the international community, as per reports. 

The declaration came shortly after the UN’s atomic watchdog censured Iran for failing to meet nonproliferation obligations intended to prevent the development of nuclear weapons.

After this announcement, Israel launched a targeted strike on Friday against what it described as a major uranium enrichment facility in Iran. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the operation in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

“This is the largest uranium enrichment site in Iran, which has operated for years to achieve nuclear weapons capability and houses the infrastructure required for enriching uranium to military-grade levels,” the IDF statement read.

The statement further noted that the underground portion of the site was damaged in the strike. “This area contains a multi-story enrichment hall with centrifuges, electrical rooms, and other supporting infrastructure,” it added.

“In addition, critical systems enabling the site’s continuous operation and the Iranian regime’s ongoing nuclear ambitions were targeted. We will continue to act to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons,” the IDF emphasised.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)