In a stark warning to world powers, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), cautioned that a direct Israeli strike on Iran&rsquo;s operational <a title="Iran" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/idf-hits-over-35-missile-nuclear-sites-in-iran-strikes/14409" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bushehr</a> nuclear facility could provoke a transboundary radiological crisis with grave humanitarian and environmental consequences.
Speaking during an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council convened amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran&mdash;now in their eighth consecutive day&mdash;Grossi said: &ldquo;A direct attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant could result in a very high release of radioactivity, with great consequences beyond Iran&rsquo;s borders.&rdquo;
The Russian-built facility, perched on the Gulf coast, houses significant quantities of nuclear material. Grossi noted that even a strike on the two external power lines that feed electricity into Bushehr could cause the reactor core to melt. Such a scenario, he warned, would necessitate widespread emergency measures.
&ldquo;Authorities would need to issue evacuation orders for populations located hundreds of kilometres from the site,&rdquo; Grossi said, noting that protective measures&mdash;such as iodine distribution, food restrictions, and expansive radiation monitoring&mdash;would have to be swiftly enacted in neighbouring Gulf states.
The IAEA chief reiterated a longstanding international norm: &ldquo;Armed attacks on nuclear facilities must never occur.&rdquo; He once again urged restraint from all parties and offered to mediate: &ldquo;The IAEA can guarantee through a watertight inspection system that nuclear weapons will not be developed in Iran.&rdquo;
While Grossi confirmed that no radiological incident has yet occurred as a result of recent hostilities, he was unequivocal in stressing the peril of any attack that might disable or directly strike an active nuclear site.
His comments came as Iran&rsquo;s Rouydad24 news outlet reported that air defence systems had been activated over the city of Bushehr. At the time of reporting, no verified information about an Israeli strike on the plant had been confirmed.
The intensifying conflict has reignited concerns over Iran&rsquo;s nuclear ambitions and the integrity of the global non-proliferation regime.
UN Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres, also addressing the Council, acknowledged Iran&rsquo;s repeated declarations that it does not seek nuclear weapons but cautioned that &ldquo;a trust gap remains.&rdquo; He added: &ldquo;The only way to bridge that gap is through diplomacy to establish a credible, comprehensive and verifiable solution.&rdquo;
However, tensions remained palpable within the chamber. <a title="Israel" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/iran-s-nuclear-drive-threatens-global-peace-israel-envoy/14210" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel&rsquo;s</a> UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, defended his country&rsquo;s actions unequivocally: &ldquo;We do not apologise for striking Iran's nuclear facilities,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will not stop&mdash;not until Iran&rsquo;s nuclear threat is dismantled.&rdquo;
In response, Iran&rsquo;s UN Ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, condemned the strikes as breaches of both the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions. He framed them as an assault not just on Iran, but on the global non-proliferation regime. &ldquo;Iran&rsquo;s nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and is under the most extensive IAEA inspections in the world,&rdquo; he asserted.
As the rhetoric intensifies and military actions loom perilously close to nuclear infrastructure, Grossi&rsquo;s plea for de-escalation underscores the razor-thin margin between diplomatic impasse and irreversible disaster.

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

IAEA chief Grossi says attack on Bushehr plant may trigger regional nuclear emergency

UN warns Israel strike on Iran nuke site could be dire

IAEA chief Grossi says attack on Bushehr plant may trigger regional nuclear emergency

June 21, 2025 | 15:06 IST