The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on the 18th (local time) that two Iranian centrifuge production facilities were struck by Israeli forces.

IAEA logo. /Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

On the same day, IAEA explained through X (formerly Twitter) that Israel struck the Tehran Research Center (TRC) in the Iranian capital Tehran and a factory in Karaj, near Tehran.

IAEA noted, "A building that manufactures and tests advanced centrifuge rotors at the Tehran facility was struck," adding, "Two buildings that produce various centrifuge components in Karaj were destroyed."

A centrifuge is a device that converts natural uranium into gaseous form (hexafluoride) and then quickly spins it in a chamber to increase the concentration of U-235 needed for nuclear power generation. It is essential for uranium enrichment that can lead to nuclear weapons manufacturing.

Iran's uranium enrichment facilities are located in Natanz in central Isfahan Province and Fordow in Qom Province.

Israeli forces stated, "More than 50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets carried out airstrikes over Tehran in the past few hours, targeting Tehran's centrifuge production facilities as part of a broad effort to thwart Iran's nuclear weapons development program."