Amid rising hostilities in West Asia, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reported there is no indication that Iran’s nuclear installations have been struck or damaged so far. Speaking to the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna, Grossi said the agency has activated its emergency response procedures to watch for any radiological consequences of the conflict.
The IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre remains operational despite communication interruptions caused by the fighting. Regional radiation-monitoring systems have been placed on alert and are coordinating continuously with the agency; to date, no increases above normal background radiation have been detected in countries bordering Iran.
Grossi said the agency has seen no evidence that key facilities — including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the Tehran Research Reactor, or other fuel-cycle sites — have been hit or suffered damage. He expressed concern, however, about difficulties re-establishing contact with Iran’s nuclear regulatory authorities and said efforts to restore communications are ongoing.
The director general also highlighted wider regional risks: some states affected by recent strikes operate nuclear power plants, research reactors, or other nuclear-related installations, which raises the prospect of severe nuclear-safety consequences if the situation escalates. He warned that attacks on nuclear facilities could cause radioactive releases with cross-border impacts and recalled IAEA General Conference resolutions that condemn such actions.
Grossi stressed that diplomacy remains essential both to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to uphold the global non-proliferation regime, calling a negotiated resolution the lasting solution. He said the IAEA will continue to monitor developments through its international safety network and is ready to assist member states in the event of any nuclear or radiological emergency.
While no radiological release has been reported, the agency described the situation as “very concerning,” noting that a serious release could require evacuations on the scale of major cities. The IAEA affirmed it is prepared to respond immediately to any breach affecting nuclear safety or security.
