Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reportedly targeted a research facility approximately 20 miles from Tehran.
According to Axios, citing sources familiar with the situation, Israel destroyed a clandestine nuclear weapons site during its October military operations in Iran. The report, based on information from three unnamed US officials, one current and one former Israeli official, identifies the target as the Taleghan 2 facility within the Parchin military complex, situated about 20 miles southeast of Tehran.
A former Israeli official stated to Axios that the strike neutralized “sophisticated equipment” used in the creation of nuclear device explosives.
While Iran officially halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, previous US intelligence assessments indicate continued related research and development. The termination of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement by then-President Trump led to Iran scaling back its participation and increasing uranium enrichment.
Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are solely for civilian purposes. In September, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asserted, “We have repeatedly emphasized that we do not seek nuclear weapons. Our goal is to meet our technical and scientific needs.”
On October 1st, Iran launched a ballistic missile barrage against Israel, citing the ongoing Gaza conflict and assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders as justification. The Israeli military reported that the vast majority of missiles were intercepted. The only reported fatality was a Palestinian man killed by falling debris in the West Bank.
Israel conducted retaliatory strikes against Iranian military sites on October 25th. Iranian officials reported five casualties: four soldiers and one security guard.