IAEA; Strike on Iran Plant Could Be Catastrophic

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has raised serious concerns over the potential consequences of a military strike on Iran’s operational Bushehr nuclear power plant. Speaking via video to the UN Security Council on Friday, Grossi emphasized that any direct hit could release dangerously high levels of radiation.

Bushehr houses thousands of kilograms of nuclear material. Grossi warned that severing the facility’s two external power lines could trigger a reactor core meltdown, resulting in significant radioactive contamination. In a worst-case scenario, protective measures like evacuation, sheltering, and iodine distribution could be necessary, with effects radiating across hundreds of kilometers.

Grossi also flagged similar risks regarding Tehran’s nuclear research reactor, stating any attack there could have serious consequences for the densely populated capital. He pledged continued transparency and updates on the safety status of Iran’s nuclear site.