Projectile Hits Iran’s Nuclear Power Plant, IAEA Confirms No Damage Reported

March 18, Kathmandu – Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that a projectile (weapon/missile) landed at its nuclear power facility located in the southwest of the country.

In a statement released Tuesday evening, the IAEA, the United Nations agency regulating nuclear technology, confirmed that Iran reported a projectile landing at the Bushehr nuclear plant.

However, there have been no reports of any damage to the facility or injuries to its staff.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for greater restraint amid ongoing conflicts, emphasizing the critical need to minimize the risk of a nuclear accident. He warned that any nuclear incident could cause severe humanitarian harm and environmental crises.

Bushehr is Iran’s only operational nuclear reactor, which was first connected to the national power grid in 2011.

Concerns over Iran’s potential nuclear weapons development have led the United States to impose stringent economic sanctions since 2018.

Iran, meanwhile, maintains that its nuclear program is strictly peaceful and focused solely on energy generation. However, both the US and Israel remain skeptical of these claims. Consequently, joint operations by the US and Israel in Iran have led to targeted attacks resulting in the deaths of high-profile figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s associates.

This ongoing conflict has also impacted Gulf countries in the Middle East, with Iran’s closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz—a vital maritime route for fuel shipments—disrupting global supply chains.

Analysts warn that an escalation of tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran could have significant repercussions not only regionally but also for global security.