The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) recently released a video showcasing the Arak nuclear reactor in Iran, alleging that it was being utilized for the development of nuclear weapons. The IDF stated that the reactor had been rendered inoperative following an attack on Thursday, a claim that was also verified by Iran.

Located approximately 250 km southwest of Tehran, the Arak reactor employs heavy water, a substance that can be utilized in the production of plutonium for nuclear armaments. The recent attack on the reactor was reportedly in response to Iran's strike on a hospital in southern Israel, resulting in nearly 40 casualties.

Although much attention is focused on Iran's uranium enrichment activities, experts closely monitor the Arak heavy water reactor due to its potential to generate plutonium for nuclear weapons. At the time of the Israeli attack, the reactor was not operational and contained no uranium fuel, ensuring that no radiation was released during the incident.

The Arak heavy water reactor was initially part of Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement, which mandated its redesign to minimize proliferation risks, including the filling of certain sections with concrete. However, this redesign was never fully completed. Following the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, Iranian officials claimed to have replaced the concrete-filled portions with new components.

Due to restricted access, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has lost crucial information regarding Iran's heavy water production, hindering its ability to fully verify the country's stockpile and activities.