Bushehr, Iran – The escalating regional conflict has taken a dangerous turn. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran reported that the Bushehr nuclear power plant was directly targeted by a missile strike. The attack, carried out this morning by US and Israeli forces, resulted in one casualty and caused material damage to the country’s only nuclear facility.
Details of the attack and casualties
Field reports published by Telegram channels close to decision-making circles in Tehran indicated that the blast wave and shrapnel from the missile caused significant damage to one of the plant’s administrative and logistical buildings. The sources also confirmed with regret the death of a security officer tasked with protecting the site while on duty. Furthermore, as a precautionary measure reflecting the seriousness of the situation, 163 personnel working at the plant, including experts and technicians, were evacuated to Russia via an expedited airlift. The Atomic Energy Organization stated that the missile landed near the perimeter fence of the nuclear complex at 8:00 AM Moscow time. It also noted that the attack did not directly damage the main reactor and has not yet affected the plant’s core operations.
Bushehr: The threatened nuclear artery
The Bushehr nuclear power plant is Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant; its first unit was connected to the power grid in September 2011 with extensive Russian technical involvement. The second phase, comprising two additional units, was planned for completion. However, the outbreak of the wider military conflict in the Middle East in early 2016 brought construction to a complete halt.
Warnings of a “radiation disaster”
For its part, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed grave concern over the targeting of nuclear facilities, warning that any direct attack could lead to a catastrophic radiological accident. The agency stressed that damage to nuclear reactors would not be confined to Iran alone, but would extend across vast, transnational areas, posing an unprecedented threat to the environment and to international peace and security in the history of modern conflicts.
