Iran has raised fresh alarms relating to potential radioactive contamination following a projectile strike near its Bushehr nuclear power plant, the country’s only operational reactor.
The incident, which killed one security guard and damaged an auxiliary building, marks the fourth reported attack in the vicinity of the facility amid the current conflict with the United States and Israel.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization confirmed that a projectile struck the site on Saturday, April 4, affecting a non-reactor structure through blast waves and shrapnel.
The main reactor and core systems remained undamaged, with no immediate radiation leak or spike in levels detected, according to Iranian officials and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Operations at the plant continued normally despite the strike.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the repeated attacks on nuclear sites, including Bushehr.
He described the strikes as posing a serious risk of radioactive contamination across the entire region, with potential human and environmental consequences.
In the letter, as reported by Al-Jazeera, Araghchi pointed out the proximity of the assaults to an active nuclear facility as creating an “intolerable situation” that could lead to a radiological release.
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The Bushehr plant, located on Iran’s Persian Gulf coast and built with Russian assistance, houses a VVER-1000 reactor.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has repeatedly expressed deep concern about military activity near the site.
He has warned that any direct damage to the operating reactor could trigger a major radiological incident, potentially releasing high levels of radioactivity into the environment with effects extending beyond Iran’s borders.
Grossi has urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid crossing critical nuclear safety lines.
This latest event follows earlier incidents in March, including one in which a structure about 350 meters from the reactor was struck.
In each prior case, the IAEA reported no damage to the reactor itself or radiation releases.
However, the frequency of strikes has heightened global concerns, with experts noting that repeated proximity attacks increase the risk of jeopardizing safety systems, even if the core has remained intact so far.
Russia defends Iran
Russia, which operates closely with Iran at Bushehr through its state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has been strongly condemning the actions.
Moscow described the strikes as irresponsible and unacceptable, particularly given their closeness to the operational unit.
Russian officials warned of catastrophic regional consequences if the plant suffers serious damage.
In response, Rosatom has accelerated the evacuation of its specialists, with another 198 personnel leaving the site on Saturday as part of a broader drawdown.
The killed guard was an Iranian national, and no Russian staff were reported injured in the latest incident.
Araghchi drew parallels with global reactions to risks at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia plant, describing it as a double standard.
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In particular, he stressed that any fallout from Bushehr will affect the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) capitals more directly than Tehran because of prevailing winds and geography, and called on the United Nations and the international community to address what Iran described as breaches of international law and nuclear safety conventions.
The IAEA has confirmed it is monitoring the situation carefully and continues to receive updates from Iran.
While no elevated radiation has been detected following the Saturday strike, the agency reiterated its position that nuclear facilities must never be targeted, regardless of the wider conflict.
Grossi emphasized that even auxiliary damage near an active plant risks violating fundamental safety principles.
Iran’s source of power.
Bushehr provides a significant portion of Iran’s electricity and represents a key civilian nuclear project under IAEA safeguards.
The plant’s location along the Gulf raises particular concerns about possible transboundary effects on neighboring countries, maritime traffic, and coastal populations in the event of a release.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran’s power plants within the next 48 hours, starting from the largest, if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened. Trump issued the fresh threat on April 4, 2026.
