IAEA Chief Alarmed by Fresh Strike Near Bushehr

The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran.

Reports of yet another projectile strike near the Bushehr nuclear power plant prompted Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to express deep concern on Saturday.

The IAEA was informed of the strike, the fourth such incident in recent weeks, by Iranian officials. Iran also told the agency that a member of the site’s physical protection staff was killed by a projectile fragment and that a building at the site was damaged by shockwaves and fragments.

Grossi emphasised that nuclear power plants and surrounding areas must never be attacked, noting that auxiliary buildings at such facilities may contain critical safety equipment. No increase in radiation levels was reported following the latest incident.

Reiterating his call for maximum military restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident, Grossi again stressed the importance of adhering to the IAEA’s seven pillars of nuclear safety and security during armed conflict.

The previous strike near Bushehr took place on 18 March, when a structure about 350 metres from the reactor was hit and destroyed. No damage to the reactor or injuries were reported at the time, but the agency warned that any attack near nuclear facilities could violate key safety principles.

Earlier this month, while addressing the IAEA Board at the agency’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, Grossi underscored the growing risk of a nuclear incident amid the military escalation. He noted that Iran and several other countries in the region that have come under military attack operate nuclear power plants and research reactors.