UN nuclear watchdog urges restraint after Iran says US struck unfinished plant

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said Sunday the U.S. attacked the under-construction Darkhovin nuclear power plant in the country's southwest, prompting the UN's nuclear watchdog to call for restraint. The strike came as Washington launched fresh air strikes to "punish" Iran for killing two U.S. service members in Jordan on Friday, its first reported losses since hostilities resumed.

What happened at Iran's Darkhovin nuclear power plant?

Iran's Atomic Energy Organization says U.S. forces struck the Darkhovin plant with several projectiles on Sunday, calling the attack aggressive and unlawful. The IAEA says it is investigating the claim and confirms the site is in the early stages of construction and contained no nuclear material when last inspected, meaning there is no believed radiological risk.

Tehran's Atomic Energy Organization said in a statement carried by state TV that U.S. forces had acted "in an aggressive and brutal act contrary to international law." The statement said the plant was hit with a number of projectiles on Sunday.

Why is the UN's nuclear watchdog calling for restraint?

The IAEA said the incident is not believed to pose any radiological risk, given the plant's early construction stage. IAEA director Rafael Grossi still repeated his call for military restraint around all nuclear-related sites, the agency said in a post on X. The call reflects ongoing concern that strikes near nuclear facilities, even unfinished ones, carry broader risks.

Does Iran have a nuclear weapons program?

Iran's nuclear program has long been a source of tension between Tehran and Western governments, including during negotiations to end the current war. The U.S. and Israel suspect Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon, a claim Tehran has consistently denied. Iran maintains its program is peaceful and insists on its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.