IAEA chief says strikes near Iran nuclear plant could trigger "major radiological accident"

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog expressed “deep concern” Thursday over recent military strikes that “reportedly” took place near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, warning that any damage to the operating facility could cause a “major radiological accident.”

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said the latest strikes took place on Tuesday evening.

Because Bushehr is an operating nuclear power plant and contains “a large amount of nuclear material,” Grossi warned that damage to the facility could result in “a major radiological accident affecting a large area in Iran and beyond.”

Grossi again called for “maximum restraint” to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident and stressed the importance of observing what the IAEA describes as the “seven pillars” for ensuring nuclear safety and security during armed conflict.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said Tuesday that a projectile struck the grounds of the Bushehr nuclear plant on Tuesday night local time. It described the incident as a “renewed attack” by the “American–Israeli enemy.”