Israeli strike in October allegedly hit Iran's secret nuclear site in Parchin, sources say

The Israeli airstrike in late October destroyed an active, highly classified nuclear weapons research site in Parchin, Iran, sources reveal. Three US officials, alongside a current and former Israeli official, confirmed the attack targeted the previously believed inactive facility. This action significantly undermined Iran's nuclear research activities, which had reportedly been revived over the past year, say Israeli and American officials.

The details was first published on the website of Axios. 

The Strike

The strike aimed at dismantling Iran’s clandestine nuclear weapons research has reportedly set back Tehran’s programme considerably. A former Israeli official briefed on the operation indicated that the attack destroyed advanced equipment for designing plastic explosives essential for triggering a nuclear device. While Iran denies pursuing nuclear arms, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed last week, "Iran is not after nuclear weapons, period." The Iranian mission to the UN chose not to comment.

The facility, known as Taleghan 2 and located within the Parchin military complex about 20 miles southeast of Tehran, was part of Iran's Amad nuclear programme until its cessation in 2003. Satellite images analyzed by the Institute for Science and International Security show the complete destruction of the Taleghan 2 building after the strike.

Behind the Scenes

According to Israeli and US officials, recent activity at Taleghan 2 included scientific research that could advance nuclear weapons development while maintaining a plausible civilian application. A US official added, “They conducted scientific activity that could lay the ground for the production of a nuclear weapon… A small part of the Iranian government knew about this, but most didn’t.”

This activity at Parchin included computer modeling, metallurgy, and explosive research, potentially dual-purpose but closely aligned with nuclear weapons development. Earlier in the year, the White House warned Iran about such activities, though Tehran reportedly continued its research. Concerns mounted across US intelligence agencies, prompting a change in assessment regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions; the Wall Street Journal reported that a recent Director of National Intelligence (DNI) report to Congress notably omitted language affirming Iran’s halt in nuclear development activities.

Missile site attack

The October attack also served as a response to Iran’s large-scale missile assault on October 1. Although US President Biden urged restraint to avoid provoking a direct conflict, Israel proceeded, focusing on Taleghan 2 — a facility outside Iran’s declared nuclear programme, ensuring that any response from Iran could not openly acknowledge violations of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

“The strike was a not-so-subtle message,” noted a US official, “that the Israelis have significant insight into the Iranian system, even regarding top-secret projects known to only a select few within the Iranian government.”