TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticized the European troika and the United States for losing credibility on non-proliferation, noting their silence as Israel intensifies construction at its nuclear site in Dimona.

Araghchi made the remarks Friday in a post on his X account, following satellite imagery analyses showing accelerated work on a major new structure at the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center. Experts suggest the facility could be either a new reactor or a site for assembling nuclear weapons, renewing long-standing concerns over Israel’s undisclosed nuclear arsenal.

“This Western hysteria over nuclear proliferation in West Asia is all fluff,” Araghchi wrote. “The issue is not the existence or growth of atomic weapons arsenals; it is about who is allowed to advance scientifically, even with peaceful nuclear programs.” He criticized the “deafening Western silence” over “the only nuclear weapons arsenal in our region—the nukes held by their genocidal ally.” Araghchi added that the E3—Britain, France, and Germany—and the United States “may be in denial, but their silence undermines any credibility they claim on non-proliferation.”

Satellite images captured on July 5 by Planet Labs PBC show significant construction at the site, including thick concrete retaining walls and what appear to be multiple underground floors, with cranes positioned above. Israel is widely believed to use a heavy water reactor at Dimona to produce plutonium for nuclear warheads and tritium to enhance their explosive power. Both Israel and the United States have declined to comment, in line with Israel’s long-standing policy of neither confirming nor denying its nuclear capabilities.

The expansion comes in the wake of Israel’s unprovoked attack on Iran on June 13, which targeted and killed military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. conducted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, actions that Tehran has called a blatant violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Israel is estimated to possess between 200 and 400 nuclear warheads, making it the sole nuclear-armed power in West Asia. Despite this, it has refused to join the NPT or allow international inspections, receiving enduring diplomatic backing from the United States.