IAEA Warns of Radiological Risk in Iran

Iran's nuclear program began in the 1950s under the Shah with U.S. support through the "Atoms for Peace" program. The country's first research reactor in Tehran was supplied by the U.S. in 1967. After the 1979 revolution, the program was initially scaled back before being revived in the 1990s with assistance from Russia and China. The country's key nuclear sites include the Natanz facility, which is its primary uranium enrichment plant, and the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, which is buried deep inside a mountain. The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, Iran's only operational nuclear power station, was initially started by German companies in 1975 and later completed by Russia's Rosatom, connecting to the grid in 2011. Tensions over the program led to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement between Iran and several world powers to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. The United States unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018, leading Iran to increase its uranium enrichment activities. Recent military operations have targeted Iran's primary nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Operation Midnight Hammer, conducted by the U.S. in June 2025, utilized "bunker buster" bombs in an attempt to penetrate the heavily fortified underground sites. While the IAEA has not reported a release of radioactive material, damage to facilities containing enriched uranium raises concerns. A radiological release could disperse radioactive particles like caesium-137, which has a half-life of about 30 years and can cause long-term environmental contamination. International leaders, including UN officials and the European Union, have called for de-escalation and maximum restraint. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has emphasized the increasing risk to nuclear safety amid the ongoing military activities.