IAF strikes destroy Iranian nuclear facilities as conflict reaches tipping point

IAEA confirms centrifuge sites near Tehran hit as Iran responds with missiles, drones amid growing international alarm.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Wednesday that Israeli airstrikes destroyed two buildings involved in Iran’s nuclear program near Tehran, marking a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two regional adversaries, according to a post on X from the IAEA.

According to the UN watchdog, Israeli warplanes targeted facilities producing components for uranium enrichment centrifuges — one in Karaj, just outside Tehran, and another in the capital itself.

A third strike hit a site where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested.

The IAEA has information that two centrifuge production facilities in Iran, the TESA Karaj workshop and the Tehran Research Center, were hit. Both sites were previously under IAEA monitoring and verification as part of the JCPOA.

— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) June 18, 2025

“These facilities were previously under IAEA monitoring and verification as part of the JCPOA,” the agency said in a statement posted on X, referring to the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers.

Israel’s military confirmed the strikes, saying the targets were part of a broader effort to cripple Iran’s nuclear weapons development.

“As part of the broad effort to disrupt Iran’s nuclear weapons program, a centrifuge production facility in Tehran was targeted,” it said.

⭕️ The IDF struck a centrifuge production site and multiple weapon manufacturing facilities in the Tehran area, key elements of Iran’s nuclear weapons and missile programs.

Over 50 IAF fighter jets targeted:

– A facility for producing centrifuges used to enrich uranium beyond… pic.twitter.com/YXMiKAJWVz

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 18, 2025

Centrifuges are essential for enriching uranium — a process that, if extended, can yield the material needed for nuclear warheads.

The strikes come during the sixth consecutive day of hostilities that began with a surprise Israeli air campaign aimed at key military and nuclear sites across Iran.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a barrage of missiles and drones toward Israel, including Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles, which can travel over five times the speed of sound and are difficult to intercept, reported the UAE outlet Khaleej Times.

Israel’s air defenses successfully intercepted most of the incoming threats.

The situation continues to deteriorate as both sides trade fire and rhetoric.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump abruptly left the G7 summit in Canada and returned to Washington, where he called for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and hinted at the possibility of targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding… We are not going to take him out — at least not for now,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Khamenei responded hours later, vowing “no mercy” toward Israel and calling for a forceful response.

The strikes have also dealt a severe blow to ongoing nuclear diplomacy.

Iran announced it would not engage in talks with the US while under attack, halting what had been slow-moving negotiations over the future of its nuclear program.

The IAEA also noted apparent damage to underground enrichment halls at Iran’s Natanz facility, though further assessments are ongoing.

IAF airstrikesiran nuclear programTehran