Agency says Bushehr nuclear plant and other facilities show no signs of damage
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it has detected no increase in radiation levels in countries bordering Iran following recent military attacks in the Islamic Republic and the wider Middle East.
Director-general Rafael Grossi said the agency’s incident and emergency centre had been activated to assess potential radiological consequences of the strikes. He said the IAEA’s regional safety monitoring network had been placed on alert and was in continuous contact with the agency.
“So far, no elevation of radiation levels above the usual background levels has been detected in countries bordering Iran,” Grossi said.
He said there was currently no indication that nuclear installations in Iran had been damaged or hit. These include the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the Tehran research reactor and other fuel cycle facilities.
Efforts to contact Iran’s nuclear regulatory authorities through the IAEA’s emergency communication channels were continuing, but no response had yet been received, Grossi said.
At a press conference after the meeting Grossi said that communication with Iranian representatives at the IAEA was "until last Thursday [26 February] very intense" but is now "limited".
He warned that the presence of operational nuclear power plants, research reactors and fuel storage facilities in Iran and other countries in the region increases the risk to nuclear safety in the event of further escalation. The United Arab Emirates operates four nuclear reactors, while Jordan and Syria have research reactors. Other states in the region use nuclear applications in medicine, industry and research.
Grossi said that armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place and could lead to radioactive releases with serious consequences beyond national borders. He said the situation remains “very concerning” and that a radiological release cannot be ruled out.
The IAEA said it would continue to monitor developments and stands ready to hlep if nuclear safety or security is compromised.
Grossi also called for a return to diplomacy, saying a negotiated solution is essential to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons and to preserve the global non-proliferation regime.
Reuters reported that Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, told reporters outside the IAEA meeting that the Natanz enrichment complex had been attacked. However, no further confirmation or details have been provided.
Iran has one commercial nuclear plant in operation and a second under construction at Bushehr, about 1,000 km south of Tehran on the Persian Gulf.
Iran’s other main declared nuclear sites include enrichment plants at Natanz and Fordow, the conversion and fuel plants at Isfahan, the unfinished Arak heavy water reactor project, and Tehran’s research reactor complex.
