Tehran, July 19 (ANI): Iran on Sunday claimed that the United States attacked the under-construction Darkhovin nuclear power plant in Khuzestan province, according to state broadcaster IRIB.
In a statement carried by IRIB, the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) alleged that the strike took place at around 3:39 a.m. local time on Sunday.
“The terrorist and criminal regime of the US, which has no nature other than bullying and lawlessness, in an aggressive and brutal act contrary to international law, attacked the Darkhovin power plant site under construction—one of the symbols of the dignity and scientific self-sufficiency of the Iranian nation—with a number of projectiles,” the AEOI said.
The claim comes as US President Donald Trump said he “couldn’t care less” about Iran’s decision to stop adhering to the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reiterating that Washington’s priority remains preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Speaking in a brief phone interview with US cable network NewsNation, Trump was asked about Tehran’s announcement that it would no longer abide by the interim agreement signed with the United States last month.
“I couldn’t care less,” Trump said.
He added that the war’s primary objective is “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
The MoU was signed between Washington and Tehran in mid-June to end the conflict that began following US and Israeli military operations against Iran in February.
The latest exchange of strikes follows escalating tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iranian state-run Press TV, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it intercepted and destroyed a US MQ-9 drone over Ahvaz in Khuzestan province, which borders Iraq.
The latest developments come amid a sharp escalation in hostilities, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) carrying out what it described as the eighth consecutive night of strikes targeting Iranian military assets.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said, “US Central Command (CENTCOM) completed another round of strikes against Iran on July 18 at 11:30 p.m. ET, at the Commander in Chief’s direction.”
According to CENTCOM, the operation was authorised by President Trump and was intended to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The latest US operations followed an Iranian attack in Jordan in which two American service members were killed and another was reported missing.
Reacting to the developments, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed office following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, during the opening phase of the conflict on February 28, sharply criticised the US administration.
In a statement posted on X, Khamenei said, “The repeated breaches of the agreement by the Great Satan [the US] regarding the MOU signed by the Presidents of Iran and the US have once again laid bare a fundamental truth. The signature of the US President is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.”
He warned that the ongoing military campaign had once again demonstrated “the worthlessness of the American president’s signature.”
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran no longer considered itself bound by the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding signed with the United States, accusing Washington of violating the agreement by escalating military operations against Iran. (ANI)
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