Iran says US bears responsibility for consequences of strike on nuclear plant

A US service member was killed in northern Iraq on Saturday during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone, US Central Command said.

A second service member was wounded and was receiving treatment for a minor injury, CENTCOM said.

CENTCOM also said that US personnel had found unidentified remains in Jordan after an Iranian attack on July 17 that killed two US service members and left one missing. An examination to verify the remains was ongoing, CENTCOM added.

Israel’s military is closely monitoring developments in Iran and maintaining a high level of readiness, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Sunday.

Zamir said the military had monitored a launch toward Aqaba, a Jordanian port city on the Red Sea, earlier in the day and that Israel’s air defense array was on alert to protect the country’s citizens.

“We are prepared to immediately resume fighting and will act with great force against anyone who harms us,” he said during a visit to the West Bank, according to remarks released by the military.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said the United States struck the construction site of the Darkhovin nuclear power plant early on Sunday.

The organization said the US military targeted the site with "a number of projectiles" in an attack carried out early on Sunday.

The Darkhovin nuclear power plant site is under construction in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province.

The US embassy in Jordan said on Sunday that Aqaba's international airport and seaport had been evacuated because of a "specific and credible threat."

"We strongly advise all Americans to refrain from travelling to either the airport or seaport. Continue to follow all Jordanian authorities' security directives," the embassy said in a post on X.

Aqaba lies next to the Israeli port city of Eilat. Air raid sirens sounded across Jordan hours earlier following Iranian attacks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Supreme Leader has the final authority to decide whether Iran goes to war or agrees to a ceasefire.

"The Supreme National Security Council is responsible for assessing the situation regarding war or a ceasefire, but the final decision rests with the Supreme Leader," Araghchi said.

Araghchi, who has faced criticism from rival political factions following the temporary understanding with the United States, said Iran agreed to resume negotiations after Washington again demanded zero uranium enrichment and threatened military action.

"The decision was made to restart negotiations to make clear that Iran had exhausted diplomatic options," Araghchi said.

In the same interview with a YouTube channel, Araghchi said he had never met Sureme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in person.

"Only a handful of people have met him," Araghchi said.