A construction site at the Darkhovin nuclear power plant in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran, was struck by US projectiles on Sunday, 19 July, the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) announced. The attack occurred at 3:39 a.m. local time (00:09 GMT), according to a statement published on the AEOI's official website.

The organisation condemned the strike as 'an aggressive and brutal action' that it said violates Iran's national sovereignty and international law. No details on casualties or material damage were disclosed in the statement.

What the AEOI Said

The AEOI's statement did not specify the nature or number of projectiles used, nor did it provide an immediate damage assessment. The organisation's characterisation of the strike as a violation of international law signals Tehran's intent to escalate diplomatic pressure, even as the military situation on the ground remains fluid.

The Darkhovin site, located along the Karun River in Khuzestan, has been under construction for decades and is one of Iran's most significant civilian nuclear infrastructure projects. An attack on it marks a significant escalation in the ongoing US-Iran military confrontation.

Strait of Hormuz Tensions

Separately on Sunday, the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it intercepted four vessels it described as 'violating' ships that attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz through an unauthorised route with what it alleged was US support. According to a statement on the IRGC's official outlet Sepah News, the vessels ignored warnings and switched off their navigation systems.

Two of the ships reportedly 'had an accident' and were stopped; the remaining two were turned back. The IRGC navy asserted that the strait is under its full control and that no oil, gas, or chemical fertiliser may transit the waterway without Iranian coordination and permission — a claim that, if enforced, would have sweeping consequences for global energy markets.

US Strikes and Regional Posture

On Saturday, US Central Command said American forces had completed the eighth round of strikes against Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime assets, and missile and drone storage sites. More than 50,000 US troops in the Middle East were described as remaining 'highly vigilant.'

This is the latest in a rapidly escalating series of exchanges between Washington and Tehran, with each round of US strikes drawing a stated Iranian military response. The frequency — eight rounds in a compressed timeframe — suggests the conflict has moved well beyond isolated incidents into a sustained campaign.

Iran Strikes US Bases in Kuwait

Also on Sunday, the Iranian Army announced it had targeted US bases in Kuwait in retaliation for what it called American 'aggressions' against Iran and attacks on civilian infrastructure including bridges. According to statements on the army's website, Iranian forces launched two rounds of drone attacks against the Al-Adiri Camp and the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.

The strikes on Kuwaiti soil — home to significant US military assets — represent a geographic expansion of the conflict and could draw additional Gulf states into an already volatile situation.

What Comes Next

With Iran striking US positions in a third country and the US targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure, the conflict is entering territory with few recent precedents. The international community, including the United Nations and regional powers, faces growing pressure to intervene diplomatically before the situation spirals further. The status of the Darkhovin plant and any damage to its reactor construction will be closely watched by nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).