Iran Says U.S. Missiles Hit Unfinished Karun Nuclear Power Plant

Overview

• Iran reported that U.S. forces fired multiple missiles at the under‑construction Karun (Darkhovin) power plant in Khuzestan and framed the strike as part of a broader wave of attacks.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency said the facility was in early construction and contained no nuclear fuel at its last inspection, so the strike did not risk a release of nuclear material.
• Iran told the UN Security Council the site is covered by IAEA safeguards, insisted its work is for peaceful civilian use, and urged the council to condemn the attack as a violation of international law.
• Tensions have been rising alongside this incident, with Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz and the United States reinstating a naval blockade on Iranian ports, moves that complicate diplomacy and regional shipping.
• The strike raises legal and safety questions about attacks on civilian nuclear infrastructure, increases risk for nearby communities, and could further undermine efforts to negotiate an end to the cycle of strikes.