The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, has warned that recent attacks near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant pose a serious threat to nuclear safety and must cease immediately.
Grossi, who leads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the facility in southern Iran has been targeted multiple times since the outbreak of hostilities involving the United States and Israel. The latest strike was reported over the weekend by Iranian state media.
According to the IAEA, analysis of satellite imagery confirmed that while the recent strike did not damage the plant, one of the impacts occurred just 75 metres from its perimeter.
Grossi cautioned that any attack near an operational nuclear facility could trigger a severe radiological incident with far-reaching consequences for both human safety and the environment, extending beyond Iran’s borders.
He reiterated that nuclear facilities and their surrounding areas must not be targeted under any circumstances.
The Bushehr plant, Iran’s only operational nuclear power reactor, was built with Russian support. Reports from Russian state media indicated that nearly 200 workers were evacuated following the latest strike, although a number of personnel remain on site.
