Bushehr Nuclear Facility Among Reported Targets
The conflict between the United States and Iran escalated sharply after Iranian authorities said US strikes targeted the perimeter of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the country’s only civilian nuclear energy facility. The reported attack has renewed international concerns about the safety of nuclear infrastructure and the growing risk of a wider regional conflict.
According to Iranian state media, Deputy Governor of Bushehr province Ehsan Jahanian said several locations were hit on Thursday, including the perimeter of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, a military base in the town of Choghadak, and a fishing pier in the southern part of the province. He added that there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries from the strikes in the area.
Residents of Choghadak, located roughly 20 kilometres from the Bushehr facility, reported hearing multiple explosions before local officials confirmed the attacks.
The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, constructed with Russian assistance, is Iran’s only operational civilian nuclear reactor. Two additional reactors are currently under construction. Russia had previously withdrawn its personnel from the site following the deterioration of security conditions during the conflict.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had earlier warned that military operations near the Bushehr facility posed a serious threat to nuclear safety. The agency has repeatedly called on all sides to avoid attacks that could endanger civilian nuclear installations. Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) indicates that at least four strikes have occurred near the plant since the conflict intensified.
Iranian Health Ministry Reports Casualties
Iran’s Health Ministry said US attacks carried out across five Iranian provinces over the past two days resulted in at least 14 deaths and 78 injuries.
Hossein Kermanpour, head of the ministry’s Public Relations and Information Centre, said the attacks took place on July 8 and July 9, affecting multiple regions. Iranian officials did not immediately release detailed information about the identities of those killed or the specific locations where the casualties occurred.
The latest figures highlight the rising human cost of the renewed confrontation, which has expanded beyond military installations to include critical infrastructure and transportation networks.
Railway Services Suspended After Infrastructure Strike
The military escalation also disrupted Iran’s transportation system. Iranian authorities suspended passenger rail services between Tehran and Mashhad after part of the railway line was damaged in what officials described as a US-Israeli attack.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways announced that operations on the busy route had been halted after a section of the track was struck earlier on Thursday. Technical teams were dispatched immediately to assess the damage and begin emergency repairs aimed at restoring services as quickly as possible.
Passengers affected by the disruption are being transported by road to Mashhad until rail operations resume.
Earlier in the day, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported that the Aq Tekeh Khan Bridge in Golestan province had also been hit by a projectile.
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Meanwhile, Axios quoted a US official as saying that American forces targeted two railway bridges in northern Iran using cruise missiles during Wednesday’s military operation. If confirmed, the strikes would represent the first reported US attacks on Iranian transportation infrastructure since the ceasefire announced on April 8.
Ceasefire Collapse Triggers Fresh Hostilities
The latest exchange of attacks follows the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire that had temporarily reduced tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The renewed conflict began after the United States accused Iran of attacking three commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important maritime route for global energy supplies. Washington responded by launching multiple waves of airstrikes against what it described as Iranian military targets along the country’s southern coastline.
Iran retaliated by launching drones and missiles targeting what it claimed were US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, further widening the scope of the confrontation.
Only weeks earlier, Iran and the United States had reached a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding on June 17 that was intended to halt military operations and create a pathway toward a broader peace agreement.
However, that diplomatic effort collapsed after US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the memorandum was “over,” signalling the end of the arrangement and paving the way for renewed military action.
International Concern Grows
The strikes near Bushehr have heightened fears among international observers that continued military operations around civilian nuclear facilities could have catastrophic consequences. While there are no reports of damage to the reactor itself, experts have repeatedly warned that attacks near operational nuclear plants significantly increase the risk of accidents with long-term environmental and humanitarian impacts.
With military operations expanding to include transportation infrastructure, energy facilities and strategic installations, concerns are growing that the conflict could spread further across the Middle East unless diplomatic efforts are revived. As both sides continue exchanging strikes, the international community is expected to closely monitor developments and renew calls for restraint to prevent further escalation.
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