In a statement published on the social media platform X, Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) asserted that U.S. forces bombed the nuclear plant under construction in the Darkhovein region. The AEOI held that attacking a nuclear facility with peaceful purposes and under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.

Construction of the Darkhovein plant, with a planned capacity of 300 megawatts, began in December 2022. According to estimates, the facility will operate with a pressurized water reactor, require approximately eight years of work, and carry an estimated cost of around two billion dollars.

The United States launched successive waves of attacks against targets inside Iran over the past week, while Tehran responded with actions against installations and bases it identifies as U.S. military sites in several countries across the region. Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18, 2016, which contemplated a cessation of military operations and the initiation of negotiations toward a broader agreement.

However, President Donald Trump announced the end of the provisional pact on July 8 after Iran attacked three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Washington to resume operations inside Iranian territory. The United States demands guarantees for freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran insists on establishing a mechanism to regulate the passage of vessels through that strategic waterway. The dispute has heightened fears of a potential disruption to regional oil and gas exports.