VIENNA: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Sunday it was investigating reports of an overnight attack on the construction site of Iran’s planned Darkhovin nuclear power plant, while Tehran accused the United States of targeting the facility in violation of international law.
The UN nuclear watchdog said the site was in the very early stages of construction and contained no nuclear material when it was last inspected. The agency added that the reported attack was not believed to pose any radiological risk.
“The IAEA is looking into reports of an overnight attack on the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, Iran,” the agency said in a post on X.
The UN agency said the facility contained no nuclear material during its last visit and that Director General Rafael Grossi had reiterated his call for military restraint around all nuclear-related sites.
The IAEA is looking into reports of an overnight attack on the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in Darkhovin, Iran. The facility is in the very early stages of construction and contained no nuclear material when last visited by the IAEA.
While the reported… pic.twitter.com/Tdi5QxWcCE
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) July 19, 2026
The agency said it had contacted Iran regarding the reports and would provide further information as it became available.
Iran accuses US of attack
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) said US strikes had targeted the Darkhovin nuclear power plant, which is under construction in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.
“An attack on a peaceful nuclear facility under international safeguards is a clear violation of international law,” the organisation said in a statement posted on X.
حمله رژیم آمریکا به سایت در حال ساخت نیروگاه هستهای دارخوین.
حمله به یک تأسیسات هستهای صلحآمیزِ تحت پادمان، جنایتی آشکار علیه حقوق بینالملل است.#دارخوین نماد خودباوری و پیشرفت #ایران است و این تجاوز، عزم متخصصان صنعت هستهای ایران را برای ادامه مسیر پیشرفت،استوارتر خواهد کرد.— Atomic Energy Organization Of Iran (@aeoi_ir) July 19, 2026
In a statement published on its official website, the AEOI said the attack took place at 3:39 a.m. local time (2409 GMT). It described the strike as “an aggressive and brutal action” that violated Iran’s national sovereignty and international law.
US-Iran escalating conflict
The latest developments come amid escalating military exchanges between Washington and Tehran.
The United States has launched multiple waves of strikes against Iran, saying they were in response to attacks by Iranian forces on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and were intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.
The exchanges have continued despite a Pakistan-brokered Islamabad memorandum of understanding signed in June aimed at ending the conflict and paving the way for a lasting peace agreement.
On Saturday, US Central Command said American forces had completed the eighth round of strikes against Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites.
CENTCOM added that more than 50,000 US troops deployed across the Middle East remained “highly vigilant”.
Iran has continued waves of missile and drone attacks targeting various Gulf countries.
Strait of Hormuz tensions
Separately, the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday it had stopped two vessels “violating” ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz through an unsafe route.
In a statement carried by the IRGC’s official Sepah News outlet, the navy said four vessels ignored warnings, switched off their navigation systems and attempted to transit the strategic waterway through an unauthorised route with US support.
It said two vessels were stopped after “having an accident”, while the other two abandoned their course following intervention by Iranian forces.
The IRGC navy said the Strait of Hormuz was under the full control of its forces and that the only safe transit route was the one designated by Iran.
