IAEA says Iran’s Khondab heavy water reactor no longer operational

Al Jazeera
March 30, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

The IAEA confirmed Iran's Khondab heavy water reactor is no longer operational.

AI Summary

The International Atomic Energy Agency has determined that Iran's Khondab heavy water production plant is no longer operational, according to the UN nuclear watchdog. Heavy water is a key component in plutonium production reactors and has been central to international concerns about Iran's nuclear program. The shutdown represents a significant reduction in Iran's capacity to produce material usable for weapons development, though it remains unclear whether the cessation is temporary or permanent. The Khondab facility has long been monitored under Iran's nuclear agreements and international sanctions regimes as a critical indicator of the country's nuclear intentions. This development comes amid ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear program and compliance with international agreements.

Source Coverage Map

3 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

Overlooked Story
7% coverage
Did Not Cover (40)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP News96AP US News96AP Top News96+35 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

War with Iran disrupts fertilizer exports as U.S. farmers prepare for planting season
Finance

War with Iran disrupts fertilizer exports as U.S. farmers prepare for planting season

Gulf states are major fertilizer producers, and the war with Iran has triggered a 25% price hike just as struggling U.S. farmers are planting corn.

NPRMar 26
India asks auto industry to optimise production as Iran war hurts energy supplies - Reuters
Global

India asks auto industry to optimise production as Iran war hurts energy supplies - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi5gFBVV95cUxOMUIyUmZTaXlsNGVtbnZ6cjVjR3dRaDB2a2VHR1VQMXpaZWNfOW1HS3hlbnFRMmE5OUJkT0EtZVZobzBIYVZXd0NnejhFOXdTYk5xUzlmMlVpRHd5X3ZSQ1c1VU9QUnVCOHZRQWpoaTVqUkxlTEZickFFc193aXJ4NFVQZHlRSEQ4d2I1YUFVSXhIOExFZFdMWl8yZWFqVGRXdktoemQxdlNfdXlIVWFWQUpmWFlseEJXdHhLUWhCQWZIWVBrcHNtQ0lwUmRhYzlISFBDbmVFNk5vYm5uR3ctcWIxLVJYUQ?oc=5" target="_blank">India asks auto industry to optimise production as Iran war hurts energy supplies</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 26
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani (2015) | 60 Minutes Archive
Global

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani (2015) | 60 Minutes Archive

In 2015, Steve Kroft interviewed Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on the heels of the landmark nuclear deal Iran had signed with six world powers.

CBS NewsMar 28
Yemen's Houthis strike at Israel as attacks on Iran continue - Reuters
National Security

Yemen's Houthis strike at Israel as attacks on Iran continue - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxNNVVtc1ZtWmlSeGkxX2N1VkZxUW1RUkFReGRKX0o5OXROT21WUjVGMS1lUFlqVFpNcUtSN3gtR3BaMFNaMGR5RDRkYW1DaExPcXJ6eEx6dXlYRVBIWEpHSm94dWNlRTZlQnhaR1BwNGl0WnhneklBenpxV1dMcDFROHlGMFQtOVF1ZGxWUm14VWtvMXlicko5bWZZWHdvSUo1aUJELWxZYTgwZFZkX3ZJd242Z0I?oc=5" target="_blank">Rubio sees US action in Iran completed in weeks as airstrikes rumble on</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 28
News Wrap: Pro-Iranian group claims it hacked Kash Patel's email account
National Security

News Wrap: Pro-Iranian group claims it hacked Kash Patel's email account

In our news wrap Friday, a pro-Iranian and pro-Palestinian hacking group claims it breached an email account belonging to FBI Director Kash Patel, lawyers representing Fulton County asked a federal court to order the FBI to return 2020 election ballots and records seized in a January raid and stocks closed out their worst week since the Iran war began, the fifth straight losing week.

PBS NewsHourMar 27
Pro-Iranian hacking group claims credit for hack of FBI Director Kash Patel's personal account - AP News
National Security

Pro-Iranian hacking group claims credit for hack of FBI Director Kash Patel's personal account - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxOVW1JbmxVeE96U0c0TUVfVGt5RV9WRjdhVzBCMDB4Z0pxMlowNUNEd1hCNnE2TGJjX01wTWJVOGZFc04wcFBXRVl2WENjLUZLazZ5TVBMVENtRGZ1WTZCbGFGR2xwMjZTZ2t1NG1icVoyQmE5TEVrSWgzT0JoS05OTUFxSVMwbUxHWm8wWnNGaW1iV1JXOXc?oc=5" target="_blank">Pro-Iranian hacking group claims credit for hack of personal account of FBI Director Kash Patel</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 27
Read Next
Lawmakers react to reports Pentagon preparing for ground operations in Iran
National Security

Lawmakers react to reports Pentagon preparing for ground operations in Iran

<p>Conflict shows signs of entering new, more dangerous phase as additional 3,500 US troops arrive in the Middle East</p><p>US lawmakers responded to reports that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, as thousands of US troops assemble in the Middle East and the conflict showed signs of entering a new, more dangerous phase.</p><p>Officials <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/28/trump-iran-ground-troops-marines/">told the Washington Post </a>that a ground operation in Iran could be limited to raids by Special Operations forces and infantry troops, but it was unclear whether Donald Trump would approve any of the Pentagon’s plans.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/29/pentagon-ground-operations-iran-report">Continue reading...</a>

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources