For years, Arak has remained one of the most sensitive points in Iran's nuclear program. As part of the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran pledged to redesign the reactor to prevent it from being used to produce plutonium. However, the Arak facility remains one of the most important points of contention between Tehran and the West – both in terms of technological capabilities and the actual intentions of the Iranian authorities.
Data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) show that the heavy water reactor was still under construction in 2023. Such installations can potentially produce plutonium used for nuclear weapons, which raises concerns among Israel and Western countries.
According to the Polish Press Agency, Iran has already accumulated 440 kg of uranium enriched to 60%. This amount far exceeds civilian demand. Once enriched, such material could be used to produce several nuclear charges.
Read also: The war with Iran saves the Russian economy. It's not about oil at all
This is not the first attack on this center
The Arak facility has previously been the target of Israeli military operations. Last June, Israel carried out a strike during a 12-day escalation in the conflict with Iran. At that time, the IAEA reported that the reactor was not operational and did not contain fissile materials.
Read also: Donald Trump changes his mind on Iran. “As requested by the government”
Israel warned civilians against the operation
Before the strike, Israel issued an unusual warning to civilians northwest of Arak and in the Khir Abad industrial zone. The message, published on the X website in Persian, informed about a planned operation against military infrastructure in the region – without specifying specific goals.
After the operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted that the target was the “inactive reactor” at Arak. The statement emphasized that Iran “made repeated attempts to rebuild the installation,” which – according to Israeli authorities – constituted a threat to the security of Israel and the world.
