El Ejército de Israel aseguró este domingo haber atacado una instalación nuclear iraní en Isfahán, en el centro del país, en el marco de la ofensiva en curso contra objetivos estratégicos de la República Islámica. La operación fue confirmada por el portavoz militar israelí, coronel Avichai Adraee, quien afirmó que las Fuerzas de Defensa de Israel (FDI) atacaron “con fuerza un centro estratégico importante”.

El ataque se produjo después de que el Organismo Internacional de la Energía Atómica (OIEA) verificara daños en cuatro edificios críticos en Isfahán, entre ellos una instalación de conversión de uranio y una planta de fabricación de placas de combustible. El organismo, que depende de Naciones Unidas, informó sobre las afectaciones el sábado por la noche tras inspecciones de urgencia.

Según el portavoz de las FDI, los ataques alcanzaron también “laboratorios e instalaciones de contención” en la zona, aunque no se precisó el momento exacto en que ocurrieron los bombardeos.

Adraee advirtió que Israel continuará atacando las capacidades nucleares iraníes “para eliminar la amenaza que representan”. Se trata del golpe más directo contra infraestructura nuclear iraní desde el inicio de la actual escalada, y marca un punto de inflexión en el conflicto regional.

La ciudad de Isfahán alberga una de las principales infraestructuras del programa nuclear iraní, incluida la planta de conversión de uranio, que actúa como parte fundamental del ciclo de producción de combustible para las centrifugadoras. El OIEA, que ha tenido inspectores en Irán desde hace décadas, expresó su preocupación por la integridad física del sitio y advirtió sobre el potencial riesgo de diseminación nuclear en caso de nuevos ataques.

Hasta el momento, la agencia no ha informado sobre la liberación de material radiactivo como consecuencia del bombardeo. No obstante, fuentes diplomáticas occidentales en Viena señalaron que los técnicos del organismo siguen trabajando para evaluar el alcance total de los daños.

El bombardeo marca un nuevo y delicado episodio en el conflicto entre Israel e Irán, que en los últimos días ha escalado de manera sostenida. A diferencia de ataques anteriores centrados en blancos militares o logísticos, este golpe tiene un carácter abiertamente nuclear, con lo que se cruza una línea que hasta ahora muchos actores internacionales consideraban de alto riesgo.

Desde el viernes, Israel ha intensificado su campaña militar como parte de la operación “Rising Lion”, en respuesta al creciente número de ataques con cohetes y drones lanzados desde Irán y sus aliados regionales.

Según el balance más reciente publicado por las FDI este domingo a las 11:15, se han registrado más de 200 lanzamientos de cohetes en los últimos días. En total, 22 misiles impactaron directamente en suelo israelí, provocando 13 muertes —incluidos tres menores— y al menos 380 heridos, de los cuales nueve permanecen en estado grave.

Por su parte, el régimen iraní ha prometido responder. El ministro de Exteriores, Abás Araqchí, declaró que Teherán continuará atacando territorio israelí mientras persistan las agresiones. “Si se detiene la agresión israelí, nosotros también pararemos”, dijo en una reunión con embajadores extranjeros celebrada en la capital iraní, según reportó el diario Tehran Times.

La ofensiva israelí ya ha causado más de 100 muertos en Irán, entre ellos altos mandos militares y científicos vinculados al programa nuclear. El viernes, medios estatales confirmaron la muerte del jefe del Estado Mayor de las Fuerzas Armadas de Irán, general Mohamad Hosein Baqerí, así como del comandante en jefe de la Guardia Revolucionaria, general Hossein Salamí, y del general Gholam Ali Rashid, responsable de la base aérea Khatam ol-Anbiya. También fueron asesinados los científicos Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi y Fereydoun Abbasi, vinculados al enriquecimiento de uranio.

The anti-ICE protests and riots in Los Angeles brought heightened scrutiny on activist groups, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Union del Barrio.

CHIRLA and the other groups are now subject to an investigation by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO., through the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that the Internal Revenue Service is looking into any possible funding of «violent» acts, according to CBS News.

Hawley sent letters to the groups for an «alleged role in financing and materially supporting the coordinated protests and riots that have gulfed Los Angeles.»

ANTI-ICE RIOT FUNDING INVESTIGATED AFTER ‘NUMEROUS HIGH BUDGET REQUESTS’ FOR PAID AGITATORS WERE REPORTED

«Credible reporting now suggests that your organization has provided logistical support and financial resources to individuals engaged in these disruptive actions,» Hawley wrote in the letters. «Let me be clear: bankrolling civil unrest is not protected speech. It is aiding and abetting criminal conduct.»

CHIRLA Executive Director Angelica Salas condemned the ICE sweeps in Los Angeles during a news conference with Mayor Karen Bass on Thursday, adding that Republicans are «saying the most vicious lies of who we are, what we do and what we’re about.»

«And yes, we have received a letter from Sen. Josh Hawley. But what I want you to know is that’s not going to deter us, it’s not going to intimidate us from standing with our immigrant community,» Salas said.

CHIRLA said they have not played a role in the violence, according to the New York Post earlier this week. Some parts of the city faced property damage, including vehicles and businesses.

The organization has received $34 million in taxpayer funding in the past, including $750,000 under the Biden administration, according to IRS records obtained by Fox News.

SEN JOSH HAWLEY EXPANDS PROBE INTO GROUPS ALLEGEDLY FUNDING ANTI-ICE RIOTS, THREATENS SUBPOENAS

A protester places debris in a fire as Border Patrol personnel in riot gear and gas masks stand guard outside an industrial park in Paramount, Calif., on Saturday, June 7, 2025.  (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

The group runs a «rapid-response network,» which Salas mentioned in the press conference has been busy with the recent ICE arrest operations in the area.

«Yesterday, our raids rapid response network did not stop receiving calls until after 7 p.m.,» Salas said. «And so, there’s two kinds of reports. It’s the community is also very scared. So even if they’re not at an enforcement site, what’s happening is they’re witnessing everything.»

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CHIRLA operates a «deportation defense» legal team, along with other immigration resources, according to its website.

«CHIRLA relies on the love and vision of our community to organize and build power among people, institutions, and organizations to change public opinion and craft progressive policies that promote human, civil and labor rights for everyone,» the group’s website states on its mission page.

SENATOR LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO DEMOCRATIC ORG OVER POTENTIAL SUPPORT FOR LA RIOTERS

U.S. National Guard are deployed around downtown Los Angeles, Sunday, June 8, 2025, following an immigration raid protest the night before. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

President Donald Trump has claimed «paid insurrections» have played a role in the riots, as a legal battle plays out between him and the state of California for his National Guard troop deployment to the civil unrest.

Fox News Digital reached out to CHIRLA for further comment.

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The FBI told Fox News Digital earlier this week that if any evidence of a criminal conspiracy emerges, they will look into it.

«We’re investigating anyone who crosses the line from first-amendment protected activity to violence and are prepared to prosecute anyone who assaults a federal officer or causes damage to government property,» Laura Eimiller, media coordinator for the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, told Fox News Digital in an email at the time. «LAPD, as you know, is also making arrests for unlawful assembly.  Obviously, any evidence of a criminal conspiracy will be investigated.»

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. had «nothing to do with» Israel’s attack against Iran but warned that any attack against the U.S. would be met with the «full strength and might» of the U.S. military.

«The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight,» Trump wrote on Truth Social in the early morning hours of Sunday. 

«If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,» he continued. «However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!»

NETANYAHU CALLS ON IRANIAN CITIZENS TO SEIZE ‘OPPORTUNITY’ FOR REGIME CHANGE

Trump’s comments came hours after the Israel Defense Forces claimed responsibility for a series of strikes on the headquarters of the Iranian Defense Ministry and a nuclear project, while Tehran unleashed a fresh barrage of deadly strikes.

«The IDF completed an extensive series of strikes on targets in Tehran related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons project,» the IDF wrote on X. «The targets included the Iranian Ministry of Defense headquarters, the headquarters of the SPND nuclear project, and additional targets, which advanced the Iranian regime’s efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon and where the Iranian regime hid its nuclear archive.»

Despite Trump’s statement, Iran says it has evidence that the U.S. was involved in the attack.

TOP ADVISOR TO IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER KILLED IN ISRAELI STRIKES, STATE MEDIA SAYS

Israeli security forces inspect destroyed residential buildings that were hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP)

«We have solid proof of the support of the American forces and American bases in the region for the attacks of the Zionist regime military forces,» Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told foreign diplomats in a meeting broadcast on state TV.

The attacks traded by Israel and Iran represented the latest violence since a surprise offensive by Israel two days earlier seeking to decimate Tehran’s nuclear program.

At least 10 Israeli victims were killed and at least 180 were injured in Iranian missile strikes overnight, while casualty figures were not immediately available in Iran, where Israel targeted Tehran’s Defense Ministry headquarters as well as locations it alleged were associated with the country’s nuclear program.

The Israeli military alleged the locations were «related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons project.»

U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency have repeatedly said Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon before Israel unleashed its offensive targeting Iran starting on Friday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has evidence that the U.S. was involved in the attack. (Getty Images)

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Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed that Iranian missiles targeted fuel production facilities for Israeli fighter jets, although this has not been acknowledged by Israel.

Planned negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over Tehran’s nuclear program were canceled amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, raising questions about when and how an end to the fighting could come.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.