A strike occurred near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant late Friday. This marks the third reported attack in the country within ten days, as the war in the Middle East enters its second month. The United Nations atomic watchdog confirmed the incident but noted that there was no radiation leak or structural damage to the reactor. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that Iran informed the agency that the Bushehr plant was operating normally after the strike, with no technical or structural issues reported.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi quickly urged all parties involved to show “maximum military restraint.” This warning comes as strikes get closer to critical nuclear infrastructure. The Iranian state news agency Fars reported that a projectile hit the plant’s grounds at 11:40 pm local time on Friday, blaming the attack on what it called the “American-Zionist enemy.” There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to the site. Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed Friday that it struck a heavy water reactor and a uranium processing plant in central Iran, but it did not specifically mention Bushehr in its statement.
The Bushehr plant in southwestern Iran carries significant strategic and symbolic importance. It houses the country’s only operational nuclear power reactor, which was first connected to the grid in 2011. The IAEA has closely monitored the facility ever since. The pattern of escalating strikes on and near Iranian nuclear infrastructure has raised concerns within the international community.
Diplomats and nuclear safety experts warn that even near-miss strikes on active reactor sites pose serious risks, regardless of initial damage assessments. With ceasefire negotiations stalled and military activity increasing, pressure is mounting on global powers to act before the conflict reaches a point of no return.