Arak heavy-water reactor was inactive, held no nuclear material, IAEA says

Israel struck dozens of military sites in Iran overnight, including the Arak nuclear facility, aiming to prevent its use in nuclear weapons development, the Israeli military said Thursday.

The facility, though currently inactive, was designed to produce weapons-grade plutonium, the army said.

“The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development,” the military added.

As Israeli strikes continue, Iran International audience report ongoing explosions, widespread internet outages, and closure of Sepah Bank branches.

One message described loud blasts in Shahr-e Qods and Shahriar at 6 a.m., with shops shuttered and internet too unstable to send images.

Others said Sepah Bank branches remain inactive without explanation.

In Rasht, residents reported severe internet slowdowns and repeated disconnections.

Authorities in Iran's Kerman province announced Thursday the arrest of four people—three men and one woman—for “disturbing public opinion” by allegedly expressing support for Israel and sharing anti-government content online.

The individuals were detained by local and provincial cyber units, accusing them of “backing Israeli actions and spreading negative news against the Islamic Republic.”

This comes amid a broader crackdown following Israeli strikes on Iran. According to HRANA, at least 160 people have been arrested nationwide in the past six days over social media activity related to the conflict.

Part of an Iranian missile fell along a roadside near the Israeli settlement of Ariel in the West Bank on Thursday, June 20, following a series of missile launches by the Islamic Republic targeting multiple areas across Israel earlier in the day.

Among the targets hit was a hospital in the southern city of Beersheba.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will attend a special session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul on Saturday, a Turkish foreign ministry source told Reuters, as the conflict with Israel escalates.

The 51st OIC Council of Foreign Ministers is expected to focus on Israel’s latest attacks, including Thursday’s strike on Iran’s Khondab nuclear site in Arak.

Israel said the targeted heavy-water reactor could produce weapons-grade plutonium. Turkey has condemned the attacks as illegal and backed Iran’s right to defend itself.

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