Vienna: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed Thursday that it has information indicating that Iran's Khondab heavy water research reactor site was hit, but said there was no radiological risk, as the facility was not yet operational.

According to Anadolu Agency, the IAEA stated that while the Khondab (formerly known as Arak) heavy water research reactor was under construction and was struck, it was not operational and contained no nuclear material, which means there were no radiological effects. The agency made these announcements on X, a platform for disseminating official communications.

The IAEA further clarified that it currently has 'no information indicating the Khondab heavy water plant was hit,' highlighting a distinction between the reactor and the associated production facility. This comes as the agency continues to closely monitor developments in the region following recent reports of strikes on nuclear-linked sites in Iran.

Despite the IAEA's confirmations, Iranian authorities have yet to officially comment. The Khondab facility remains a focal point of international scrutiny due to its inclusion in past nuclear agreements.

The tensions escalated last Friday when Israel launched airstrikes on several locations across Iran, targeting military and nuclear facilities, which led to a series of retaliatory strikes from Tehran. Israeli authorities have reported that at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds injured in Iranian missile attacks since the conflict began.

Conversely, reports from Iranian media indicate that 585 individuals have been killed and over 1,300 wounded due to the Israeli assault. The ongoing hostilities underscore the fragile nature of regional stability and the potential global ramifications of this conflict.