Tehran and Moscow claim that a projectile hit the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, raising the specter of a radioactive incident, as Israel and the United States’ war against the Islamic Republic intensifies.
Neither Iran nor Russia claim that there was any release of nuclear material in the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, but it once again highlights a long-standing concern of Iran’s neighbors — that the plant, located on the shores of the Persian Gulf, could be hit by an attack or earthquake.
Russian state news agency Tass on Tuesday evening quoted Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev as saying that “an attack hit the area adjacent to the metrology service building located on the site of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, in the immediate vicinity of the operating power unit.” Russian technicians from Rosatom operate the plant, using Russian-made low-enriched uranium.
“There were no casualties among the personnel of the State Corporation Rosatom”said Likhachev. “The radiation situation at the site is normal,” added the manager.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran later issued a statement saying that “no financial, technical or human damage occurred and no part of the plant was damaged”.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today issued a statement saying it had been “informed by Iran that a projectile struck the Bushehr nuclear power plant on Tuesday night.”
“No damage to the plant or injuries to personnel were reported”adds the text.
No independent expert observed the damage, nor did Iran or Russia publish images of the damage.
It is not yet clear which “projectile” hit the complex. The United States Armed Forces Central Command, responsible for the forces that have been attacking southern Iran, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shrapnel from intercepted missiles and other air defense fire has also caused damage in the region since the start of the war. Bushehr, about 750 kilometers (465 miles) south of Iran’s capital Tehran, is home to an Iranian navy base and a dual-use civil and military airport with air defense systems.
The reactor currently operating in Bushehr uses uranium from Russia enriched to 4.5%, a low level necessary for energy production in such plants.
Bushehr, as a functioning civilian nuclear plant, was not affected during the 12-day war in June between Israel and Iran. During that war, the US bombed three Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities. Since then, Iran has prevented IAEA inspectors from visiting these types of facilities.
A possible attack on a nuclear plant that causes radiation leaks would constitute an existential crisis for the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, which depend on desalination plants in the gulf for their water supply.
Lusa
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