IAEA Warns of Nuclear Risk from Iran Strikes
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued a stark warning that it 'cannot rule out' a potential radiological release from military strikes in Iran. While there's no current evidence that nuclear facilities have been hit, the agency highlighted the grave risk of accidental or deliberate contamination as the U.S. air campaign continues.
The U.S. air campaign, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," began on February 28, 2026, and has involved striking over 1,000 targets in Iran. The operation, the largest concentration of air power in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, aims to destroy Iranian missile and drone sites, command centers, and nuclear-related facilities. Prior to the conflict, Iran had significantly expanded its nuclear program, amassing a stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, close to the 90% weapons-grade threshold. As of late 2024, estimates suggested Iran had the capability to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for five to six bombs in under two weeks. Iran's key nuclear sites include the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow. U.S. strikes in June 2025, part of "Operation Midnight Hammer," previously targeted these three sites with "bunker buster" bombs, causing significant damage. More recent satellite imagery from March 2026 confirmed new damage to entrance buildings at the underground Natanz plant. In response to the strikes, the IAEA activated its Incident and Emergency Centre to monitor for radiological threats. Director-General Rafael Grossi confirmed that regional safety monitoring networks are on alert, but so far have detected no radiation levels above normal background levels in bordering countries. Communication with Iran's nuclear regulatory authorities has been cut off. Military strikes on nuclear facilities are not unprecedented in the region. Israel bombed Iraq's Osirak research reactor in 1981 and a suspected Syrian reactor site in 2007. During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, Iraq repeatedly bombed Iran's Bushehr plant while it was under construction. The IAEA General Conference has previously passed resolutions emphasizing that armed attacks on nuclear facilities used for peaceful purposes are a violation of international law. Director-General Grossi has urged "utmost restraint," warning that such attacks could lead to catastrophic radioactive releases with severe consequences.
