US attack: unravelling Iran's 75 years of work

Express Tribune

7 hours ago

Photo: Iranian flag flies in front of the UN office building, housing IAEA headquarters, in Vienna, Austria, May 24, 2021. REUTERS
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Iran's nuclear programme, which began in the 1950s with the help of the United States, is a tale of immense financial and human sacrifices. Ironically, the very country that helped Tehran launch it now appears determined to destroy it nearly 75 years later.
During the Pahlavi dynasty in the 1970s, the programme expanded with the installation of nuclear power reactors. However, after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the programme was halted, and the US imposed its first economic sanctions.
In the 1990s, suspicions arose in the international community that Iran was secretly developing nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted its first inspection in 2003, uncovering Iran's nuclear activities.
In 2006, permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany initiated talks with Iran. This resulted in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under which Iran agreed to limit uranium enrichment to 3.67% and reduce its enriched uranium stockpile.
Iran also allowed the IAEA full monitoring access to its nuclear sites, and the agency confirmed Iran's transparency until 2015.
In 2018, the United States — under President Donald Trump — withdrew from the deal, prompting Iran to gradually resume uranium enrichment. After 2021, enrichment levels reached 60%. Between 2021 and 2025, the IAEA expressed doubts and concerns over Iran's lack of cooperation.
In early 2025, a new diplomatic effort began to revive the agreement. Five rounds of negotiations were held, with a sixth round scheduled from June 13–15 in Oman.
On June 12, the IAEA reported that Iran was close to reaching a nuclear breakout point.
The next day, June 13, Israel launched an attack on Iran, killing six nuclear scientists, the Iranian army chief, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander, and the aerospace commander.
In total, over fifteen Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed in recent Israeli attacks.
Two generals, the IRGC deputy intelligence chief, and a deputy commander were also killed.
Previously, in 2009, Iranian nuclear scientist Dr Masoud Mohammadi was assassinated. In 2010, Dr Majid Shahriari was also killed. In 2011, Dariush Rezaeinejad lost his life, and in 2020, the mastermind of Iran's nuclear programme, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was assassinated.
According to foreign news agencies, Iran has six major nuclear facilities across different cities.
Natanz and Fordow are used for uranium enrichment. Arak had a heavy water reactor, which was attacked by Israel on June 19. Bushehr is Iran's only nuclear power plant; Isfahan has a uranium conversion center while Lashkarabad hosts a nuclear experimental center.
Iran's nuclear facilities have also been targeted by multiple cyber and physical attacks.
In 2010, the Stuxnet virus damaged centrifuges at Natanz. In 2020, an explosion occurred at Natanz, which Iran termed sabotage. In 2021, another attack disrupted its power system. Iran has consistently blamed Israel for these attacks.