Israel reportedly attacked facilities linked to Iran’s nuclear program

Over the weekend, Israel attacked two Iranian military bases, one of which the International Atomic Energy Agency suspected is linked to Tehran’s nuclear program, media reported.

Iran’s Parchin military base southeast of the capital in Tehran was used to test high explosives for use in nuclear weapons, the Washington-based nonprofit Institute for Science and International Security said in a 2018 report based in part on Israeli intelligence disclosures that year.

The institute on Saturday said on the website X that Taleghan 2, one of the Parchin buildings and a test location for Iran’s nuclear weapons at Parchin, was destroyed by the Israeli attack.

“It is possible Iran only removed the most incriminating equipment in its clean up effort, ie the high explosive test chamber, but left the flash x ray and Marx generator,” the Institute posted to X Saturday. “If so, Israel’s alleged destruction may have destroyed valuable equipment useful in further nuclear weapons development.”

However, Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Saturday on X that “Iran’s nuclear facilities have not been impacted.” He said that inspectors for IAEA are “safe and continue their vital work. I call for prudence and restraint from actions that could jeopardize the safety & security of nuclear & other radioactive materials.”

President Joe Biden (D) has said that he would not support an Israeli attack on any Iranian nuclear facilities.