VIENNA – In a critical update amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi has reported no signs of significant damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities following recent US-Israel airstrikes.
Speaking at the opening of a special session of the IAEA Board of Governors focused on Iran, Grossi emphasized that satellite imagery and monitoring data show no impact on key sites like the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, Tehran Research Reactor, and other fuel enrichment centers.
‘We have not detected any radiation spikes in neighboring countries, which is a reassuring sign,’ Grossi stated. However, he highlighted a major communication blackout with Iranian nuclear regulatory authorities due to the ongoing conflict.
Efforts to reestablish contact are underway, but the war has severed vital channels. Grossi warned that any direct hit on a nuclear installation could trigger radioactive leaks, forcing mass evacuations from major cities and plunging the region into catastrophe.
The situation in the Middle East remains ‘extremely worrying,’ according to the IAEA chief. He renewed calls for all parties – including Iran responding with missile strikes – to exercise maximum restraint and pivot immediately to diplomacy.
‘Returning to talks is not just preferable; it’s essential to avert a nuclear disaster,’ Grossi urged. As the agency scrambles to bridge the information gap, the world watches nervously, hoping cooler heads prevail before irreversible damage occurs.