In a bold escalation, Israel launched airstrikes on Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor on June 19, 2025, according to Iranian state television. The facility had been evacuated in advance, and officials reported "no radiation danger whatsoever". The reactor, critical to Iran’s plutonium production for nuclear research and potential weapons use, had been redesigned under the 2015 nuclear deal but resumed operations in 2019 after the U.S. withdrawal .

This strike is part of an intensified Israeli campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure - including sites at Natanz, Isfahan, and Tehran - and follows a misguided warning to civilians to evacuate . In response, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones into Israel, damaging infrastructure and striking Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheba . With over 600 reported Iranian casualties and dozens in Israel, regional tensions have reached a dangerous zenith. Global actors like the IAEA have expressed alarm over attacks on nuclear facilities. As both sides jockey for strategic advantage, the world watches nervously amid fears of broader conflict.