The head of the UN’s nuclear agency is ‘deeply concerned’ by reports of recent attacks on Iranian power plants

That IAEA was notified of the attack – which was the fourth such incident in recent weeks – by Iranian officials. Iran also told the agency that a physical protection staff member at the site was killed by projectile fragments and that a building at the site was hit by shock waves and fragments.

Grossi emphasized that nuclear power plant sites or the surrounding area should not be attacked, noting that outbuildings may contain important safety equipment. No increase in radiation levels was reported following the latest incident.

Reiterating the call for maximum military restraint to avoid the risk of nuclear accidents, Grossi once again stressed the importance of complying with the IAEA’s seven pillars to ensure nuclear safety and security during conflict (see below).

The previous attack on Bushehr occurred on March 18, when a building about 350 meters from the reactor was hit and destroyed. No damage to the reactor or injuries were reported, but the agency warned that any attack near a nuclear facility risks violating key safety principles.

Earlier this month, in a speech to the IAEA Board at the agency’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, Grossi underscored the risk of a nuclear incident resulting from military escalation because Iran “and many other countries in the region targeted by military strikes have operational nuclear power plants and nuclear research reactors.”