Effects of missile hits on Iran's nuclear power plant

Two days after the Iranian strike at U.S. Air Force Base Muwaffaq Salti in Jordan, the Americans conducted another wave of attacks on Iran. At the same time, Tehran reported that the missiles had fallen on the site of the built Darkhovin nuclear power plant.

Darkhovin hit during American retaliation

The American strikes were a response to an attack we described on 17 July in which soldiers died. United States. CENTCOM stated that the target was among other things the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces responsible for hitting the base in Jordan.

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization has reported that several missiles have fallen to the site of the Darkhovin nuclear power plant in Chuzestan Province. Available recordings show explosions and fire at the site indicated by the Iranian side, but do not allow to determine the magnitude of impact or damage.

The American side did not list Darkhovin among the targets attacked. CENTCOM inform about strikes at the command post, anti-aircraft defense facilities, naval infrastructure and sites used to store and fire missiles and drones. The U.S. side also did not state how many fatalities and injuries were found among the civilian population. Recordings from the scene show that explosions and fires also included buildings located near the power plant.

It is not known whether the power plant was deliberately targeted. Data are also missing to determine whether the missiles hit the resulting buildings, investment facilities or just the area in their neighbourhood.

The IAEA sees no radiological threat

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Darkhovin is at a very early stage of construction. There was no nuclear material at the last visit of inspectors on the site.

The reactor has not yet been launched and there is no fuel in it. For this reason, the IAEA does not see a radiological threat related to the reported impact.

However, the director-general of the agency Rafael Grossi reiterated his appeal to halt armed action near nuclear power facilities.

Damage scale remains unknown

The construction of the power plant began in December 2022. In Darkhovin there is to be a pressure water reactor with a power of about 300 MW.

It is not known whether the hits caused more serious damage or whether they will affect further investment. However, there is no information on the release of radioactive substances.

Since there were probably no nuclear materials on the site, the impact did not create a radiological threat. However, the fact that nuclear infrastructure has been hit remains a serious warning signal. In the case of an active reactor, effects similar attack could go far beyond the power plant.