Iran vows 'HEAVY price' after Israeli strikes on nuclear, industrial sites
The Israel Defense Forces said the strikes were carried out under Operation “Rising Lion,” targeting facilities linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, including the Arak heavy water plant and a uranium extraction site in Yazd
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday condemned Israeli airstrikes on nuclear and industrial facilities, saying Tehran would respond forcefully.
"Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes," Araghchi said in a post on X.
Israel has hit 2 of Iran's largest steel factories, a power plant and civilian nuclear sites among other infrastructure. Israel claims it acted in coordination with the U.S.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 27, 2026
Attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy.
Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes
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The Israel Defense Forces said the strikes were carried out under Operation "Rising Lion," targeting facilities linked to Iran's nuclear programme, including the Arak heavy water plant and a uranium extraction site in Yazd, says ANI.
"The Air Force struck the heavy water plant in Arak... Despite explicit international commitments, foremost among them the nuclear deal, the Iranian terrorist regime has systematically refrained from converting the reactor in a manner that would prevent the production of weapons-grade plutonium... Therefore, the IDF has now struck the facility once again," the military said in a statement.
"Enriched uranium constitutes a central and critical component in nuclear weapons development... The strike on the site detracts from the Iranian terror regime's ability to obtain the raw material required for these processes," it added.
Iranian officials said the strikes extended beyond nuclear sites. "Israel has hit 2 of Iran's largest steel factories, a power plant and civilian nuclear sites among other infrastructure. Israel claims it acted in coordination with the US. Attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy. Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes," Araghchi said.
Iranian state media reported one person was killed and two injured at the Mobarakeh Steel Company. A separate strike on the Khuzestan Steel Company left 16 people with minor injuries.
The escalation appeared to undercut a diplomatic pause announced by US President Donald Trump.
"As per Iranian Government request, please let this statement serve to represent that I am pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, 6 April, 2026, at 8 PM, Eastern Time. Talks are ongoing and... they are going very well," Trump said.
Trump has also criticised the NATO alliance's role in the crisis, saying, "Why would we be there for them if they're not there for us?"
The developments come amid rising regional tensions. Yemen's Houthi movement signalled possible escalation, stating: "Our hands are on trigger for direct military intervention."
A missile strike in central Israel resulted in one death and several injuries, according to reports, while additional launches attributed to Houthi forces have heightened concerns of a broader conflict.
