Israel reportedly targeted a clandestine nuclear weapons facility during missile strikes on Iran in October, according to Axios, which cited sources familiar with the situation.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) hit the Taleghan 2 site located within the Parchin military complex, approximately 20 miles southeast of Tehran, as reported by Axios, referencing three unnamed US officials along with one current and one former Israeli official.

A former Israeli official indicated to the outlet that the attack resulted in the destruction of “advanced equipment” utilized in the production of explosives for nuclear device detonation.

While the Islamic Republic ceased its nuclear weapons program in 2003, it has continued to pursue related research and expertise, as indicated by previous US intelligence evaluations. During his first term, US President-elect Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, prompting Tehran to reduce its compliance with the deal and increase uranium enrichment activities.

Iran maintains that its nuclear research is solely for peaceful purposes. “We have consistently stated that we do not pursue nuclear weapons,” President Masoud Pezeshkian declared in September. “Our objective is to fulfill our technical and scientific requirements.”

On October 1, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the targeted killings of prominent Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. The Israeli military reported that the majority of these missiles were intercepted in mid-air. The only reported casualty from the missile strikes was a Palestinian man who died from debris in the West Bank.

In response, Israel conducted airstrikes on Iranian military installations on October 25, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers and one security guard, according to Iranian sources.