Iran Nuclear Plant Attack: Israel Denies Responsibility

Iran and Israel traded attacks as the Middle East conflict entered its third week.

Iran unsuccessfully targeted a joint U.S.-U.K. military base in the Indian Ocean, according to the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence. President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. is considering winding down military operations against Iran but later stated that ceasefire talks were not on his agenda.

Smoke rose after powerful explosions as the Israeli army announced a new wave of attacks on Tehran, the capital of Iran, on March 21, 2026. Israel denied responsibility and said it wasn't aware of its own strikes in the region. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is investigating the incident, while Russia condemned the attack as a violation of international law.

In Israel, several people were injured, including a 10-year-old boy and a 40-year-old woman in moderate condition. Iran claimed responsibility for targeting Dimona, which houses Israel's main nuclear research center. The conflict has resulted in over 1,300 casualties in Iran, more than 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel, and 13 U.S. military members.

The U.K. granted the U.S. permission to use British bases for defensive operations, including attacks on missile sites targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran fired intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia but failed to hit the U.S.-U.K. base. The U.S. Central Command reported progress in degrading Iran's ability to threaten navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

President Trump emphasized that Iran lacks a navy, air force, or advanced equipment and stated that the U.S. is close to achieving its objectives as it considers winding down military efforts in the Middle East. However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans for increased attacks on Iranian targets in the coming week.

The G7 nations expressed support for regional partners facing unjustifiable attacks by Iran and its proxies, while Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian called for an immediate cessation of U.S.-Israeli aggression to end the conflict and wider regional instability. The war has significantly impacted global oil markets, with Brent crude futures rising to their highest close since July 2022 and WTI futures also increasing.

The U.S. authorized the sale and delivery of Iranian oil into the U.S. under strict conditions to prevent Iran from accessing revenue and to maintain maximum pressure on its financial system.