Latest news with #MissileDefenceAdvocacyAlliance
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
How did Israel's attacks impact Iran's nuclear programme?
On Thursday morning, Israel attacked Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, one of the country's largest nuclear facilities, located 250 kilometres southwest of the capital Tehran. The facility had been completely evacuated, with no damage to the civilian areas surrounding the reactor, according to Iranian sources. According to the US non-profit Missile Defence Advocacy Alliance, the Arak nuclear reactor, also known as IR-40, is a heavy-water nuclear reactor that began operating in 2003. However, its design origins are unclear, with foreign experts believed to have contributed to its construction, including the Russian design firm Nikit. Reports indicate that Iran sought to present the reactor as "not to be used to produce nuclear material of military purity", but it was capable of producing about 9 kilograms of plutonium, raising US concerns that this could enable Tehran to manufacture a plutonium-based nuclear weapon. After signing the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, the international community conditioned the modification of the Arak reactor on the lifting of sanctions. In 2016, Iran announced that it had filled the reactor core with cement. However, in February of the same year, Tehran exceeded the maximum permissible heavy water stockpile limit for the first time, a limit that was also surpassed again in November 2016. In addition, Tehran transferred more than 80 metric tonnes of heavy water, formerly intended for the Arak reactor, to Oman. Although Iran still has control over this quantity, its cross-border transfer was not considered a breach of the agreement. In one of Israel's extensive military attacks on Iran, the strikes which began last Friday targeted critical nuclear sites, severely damaging its nuclear programme, according to multiple reports, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) data and recent satellite imagery. The strikes targeted three major uranium enrichment sites across the Middle Eastern country. At Natanz's central underground facility, the electrical infrastructure was reportedly completely destroyed, including backup power plants, leading to the possible damage or destruction of thousands of centrifuges, as confirmed by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. At the same site, a smaller near-surface facility, the PFEP pilot plant, was declared completely destroyed. It contained advanced centrifuges that enriched uranium up to 60%. No visible damage was reported to the Fordow bunker facility. However, Fordow produces the most significant amount of uranium enriched to 60%, which is a few simple steps away from reaching the level of making a nuclear bomb. Four further sites were targeted in Isfahan, including a uranium conversion centre and facilities to work on uranium metallurgy technology, which is essential for making the core of a nuclear weapon. The centrifuge production workshops in Karaj and Tehran, also struck in Israeli attacks, were previously monitored by the IAEA, but the number of remaining undeclared workshops is unknown. Furthermore, at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed since the attacks began, according to multiple sources in the region. The Israeli military said nine of them were a "key element" in Tehran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon. According to IAEA estimates as of Tuesday, Iran has enough uranium enriched up to 60% to make up to nine nuclear bombs. It also has further uranium enriched to a lesser degree that could be used to produce additional bombs. Tehran has announced that it will take "undeclared" measures to protect nuclear material and equipment and may reduce co-operation with the IAEA, while Iran's parliament is considering a bill to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), following North Korea's example. If the uranium conversion facility in Isfahan goes offline, Iran will have to find external sources of uranium hexafluoride (UF6), the key ingredient in the enrichment process.
Euronews
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
What damage have Israeli strikes caused to Iran's nuclear programme?
On Thursday morning, Israel attacked Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, one of the country's largest nuclear facilities, located 250 kilometres southwest of the capital Tehran. The facility had been completely evacuated, with no damage to the civilian areas surrounding the reactor, according to Iranian sources. According to the US non-profit Missile Defence Advocacy Alliance, the Arak nuclear reactor, also known as IR-40, is a heavy-water nuclear reactor that began operating in 2003. However, its design origins are unclear, with foreign experts believed to have contributed to its construction, including the Russian design firm Nikit. Reports indicate that Iran sought to present the reactor as "not to be used to produce nuclear material of military purity", but it was capable of producing about 9 kilograms of plutonium, raising US concerns that this could enable Tehran to manufacture a plutonium-based nuclear weapon. After signing the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, the international community conditioned the modification of the Arak reactor on the lifting of sanctions. In 2016, Iran announced that it had filled the reactor core with cement. However, in February of the same year, Tehran exceeded the maximum permissible heavy water stockpile limit for the first time, a limit that was also surpassed again in November 2016. In addition, Tehran transferred more than 80 metric tonnes of heavy water, formerly intended for the Arak reactor, to Oman. Although Iran still has control over this quantity, its cross-border transfer was not considered a breach of the agreement. In one of Israel's extensive military attacks on Iran, the strikes which began last Friday targeted critical nuclear sites, severely damaging its nuclear programme, according to multiple reports, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) data and recent satellite imagery. The strikes targeted three major uranium enrichment sites across the Middle Eastern country. At Natanz's central underground facility, the electrical infrastructure was reportedly completely destroyed, including backup power plants, leading to the possible damage or destruction of thousands of centrifuges, as confirmed by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. At the same site, a smaller near-surface facility, the PFEP pilot plant, was declared completely destroyed. It contained advanced centrifuges that enriched uranium up to 60%. No visible damage was reported to the Fordow bunker facility. However, Fordow produces the most significant amount of uranium enriched to 60%, which is a few simple steps away from reaching the level of making a nuclear bomb. Four further sites were targeted in Isfahan, including a uranium conversion centre and facilities to work on uranium metallurgy technology, which is essential for making the core of a nuclear weapon. The centrifuge production workshops in Karaj and Tehran, also struck in Israeli attacks, were previously monitored by the IAEA, but the number of remaining undeclared workshops is unknown. Furthermore, at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed since the attacks began, according to multiple sources in the region. The Israeli military said nine of them were a "key element" in Tehran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon. According to IAEA estimates as of Tuesday, Iran has enough uranium enriched up to 60% to make up to nine nuclear bombs. It also has further uranium enriched to a lesser degree that could be used to produce additional bombs. Tehran has announced that it will take "undeclared" measures to protect nuclear material and equipment and may reduce co-operation with the IAEA, while Iran's parliament is considering a bill to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), following North Korea's example. If the uranium conversion facility in Isfahan goes offline, Iran will have to find external sources of uranium hexafluoride (UF6), the key ingredient in the enrichment process.
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
What is Iran's Arak heavy water reactor and why Israel attacked it? Explained
Israel on Thursday carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor in its latest offensive against Tehran's sprawling nuclear programme on the seventh day of escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Israeli strikes came parallelly with an Iranian missile hitting a hospital in the southern part of the country, causing 'extensive damage', according to the Associated Press. Israel had warned on Thursday morning that it would attack the facility and urged the public to flee the area. Iran Israel war live updates. The Arak Nuclear Complex, located in the Western part of the country, around 280 kilometres from the capital Tehran, comprises a heavy water experimental reactor and an adjacent heavy water production plant. Also Read: Missiles hit Israel's main hospital in south, Iran's Arak heavy water reactor The heavy water from the facility helps cool nuclear reactors. Though Iran insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, the reactor produces weapons-grade plutonium as a byproduct, which can potentially be used in nuclear weapons, several websites, including Politico and Missile Defence Advocacy Alliance, reported. If Iran decides to pursue a nuclear weapon, the plutonium would help it develop a nuclear bomb without enriching uranium. The international community has remained concerned over the Arak reactor, as several other countries have used such a reactor to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. Moreover, the details regarding the development of the facility have been murky, with reports of foreign experts, including Russia, contributing to the construction. Iran started secretly developing a Heavy Water Research Reactor in 2003 after several nuclear suppliers rejected its requests in the 1990s. In 2015, Iran reached a landmark accord with several world powers, including the US, which is popularly known as the Iran nuclear agreement. Also Read: Iran warns against US intervention in conflict with Israel: 'All options on table' Under the agreement, Iran agreed to redesign the facility and dismantle much of its nuclear programme to relieve proliferation concerns- a move which was agreed in exchange of several billions of dollars' worth of sanctions, Politico reported. In 2019, the country started the secondary circuit of the heavy water reactor. Though Iran didn't violate 2015 nuclear deal, the move resulted in the country getting closer towards developing nuclear weapons. During the crucial interphase, UK stepped in to help Iran redesign the Arak reactor to limit the amount of plutonium produced as the US unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018 after Trump came into power, according to the Associated Press. As part of the 2015 deal, Tehran also agreed to sell off its heavy water to the West to comply with the terms of the accord. Several international agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, have been urging Israel not to attack Iranian nuclear sites. The Israeli military said that the fighter jets targeted the Arak facility to halt Iran from producing plutonium. "The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development," Israel said. However, Iran has maintained that the water reactor facility is for peaceful purposes. Iran enriches uranium up to 60 per cent, which is slightly short of weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.
