Abu dhabi: Radiation levels in the Gulf region remain normal following the 12-day conflict that severely damaged several nuclear facilities in Iran, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Friday.
According to Emirates News Agency, regional data reported regularly to the IAEA through the International Radiation Monitoring System (IRMIS) confirmed that the 48-nation network would have detected significant radioactive releases from any damaged nuclear power reactors.
Director General Grossi highlighted that Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and the Tehran Research Reactor were of primary concern. Any strike affecting these facilities, including their off-site power lines, could have precipitated a radiological accident with potential consequences beyond Iran’s borders, particularly with the Bushehr plant. However, such a scenario was avoided, as there was no substantial nuclear safety incident.
Grossi reiterated that nuclear facilities should never be ta
rgets of attacks and noted that the IAEA’s assessment, based on information from Iran’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority, indicated that the Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites this month resulted in localized radioactive releases and toxic effects inside the impacted facilities. However, there have been no reports of increased radiation levels off-site.
The Director General also underscored the importance of allowing IAEA inspectors to continue their verification activities in Iran as stipulated under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) with the Agency.