Israel, US attack Bushehr NPP area for third time — Atomic Energy Organization of Iran

Lead

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has reported that Israel and the United States have carried out a third strike on the area around the Bushehr nuclear power plant since late February, heightening international concern over the safety of civilian nuclear infrastructure amid the ongoing US-Israeli military operation against Iran. The latest incident, reported on March 28, involved a projectile falling near the plant, though Iranian authorities said there were no casualties, damage, or technical failures at that time. A subsequent attack on April 4 killed a security guard, according to the AEOI, as reported by TASS.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed deep concern over the incidents, with Director General Rafael Grossi stating that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas “must never be attacked.” The agency also warned that auxiliary site buildings may contain vital safety equipment, and while it said it had no information about any increase in radiation levels, it cautioned that strikes could trigger a “severe radiological accident” with consequences far beyond Iran’s borders.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the events has been led by Russian state news agency TASS, which has provided detailed reports on the strikes, Iranian statements, and international reactions. The reports consistently attribute the military action to the United States and Israel, noting that the operation began on February 28 and has included strikes on major Iranian cities, including Tehran. The White House has justified the attacks by citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran, a justification reported by multiple TASS dispatches.

The IAEA’s position has been a central focus across all reports, with the agency emphasizing that attacks on nuclear sites are unacceptable and that maximum restraint is needed to avoid nuclear safety risks. The European Union’s warning that strikes on civilian infrastructure are illegal, as reported by RFI, adds a diplomatic layer to the story, with EU Council president Antonio Costa calling such attacks “illegal and unacceptable.” RFI also highlighted the EU’s call for Iran to halt attacks in the region and restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

While most reports are neutral in tone, one TASS article features an expert warning from Marc Lynch, a professor at George Washington University, who described the situation in more alarmist language, suggesting that nuclear fallout could render the Gulf “uninhabitable.” This perspective, however, represents a single source’s opinion and is not echoed in other reports.

Key Claims

• The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28, with the White House citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran, according to multiple TASS reports.
• The Bushehr nuclear power plant area has been struck three times since the start of the operation, as reported by Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and covered by TASS. The first attack occurred on March 17, the second on March 24, and the third on March 28.
• A projectile fell near the plant on April 4, killing one security guard, but the main facilities were not damaged, according to the AEOI, as reported by TASS.
• The IAEA has expressed deep concern and stated that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas must never be attacked, with Director General Rafael Grossi calling for maximum restraint, as reported by multiple sources.
• The Bushehr plant continues operating without interruptions, and all processes are under control, according to local authorities cited by NourNews and reported by TASS.
• The European Union has warned that strikes on civilian infrastructure are illegal, with EU Council president Antonio Costa calling them “illegal and unacceptable,” as reported by RFI.
• A single-source claim, attributed to George Washington University professor Marc Lynch, asserts that strikes have targeted desalination plants and that Israel has been bombing the Bushehr reactor “over and over again.” This claim has not been independently verified.

Perspectives

The Iranian government, through the AEOI, portrays the attacks as violations of international law that endanger regional security. The AEOI’s statements, as quoted by TASS, emphasize that the attacks on civilian nuclear infrastructure are unacceptable and that the plant continues to operate normally under full supervision.

The United States and Israel, as reported by TASS, justify their military operation by citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran. The White House has framed the strikes as necessary to counter these threats, though no specific evidence has been presented in the reports reviewed.

The International Atomic Energy Agency focuses on the nuclear safety risks, urging restraint and warning of the potential for a severe radiological accident. The IAEA’s statements, as covered by TASS, stress that auxiliary buildings near reactors may contain equipment critical to safety and must not be targeted.

The European Union, as reported by RFI, condemns strikes on civilian infrastructure as illegal and calls for a diplomatic solution. EU officials also urge Iran to halt its attacks and restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Expert opinion, as highlighted in one TASS report, warns of catastrophic environmental consequences if the Bushehr plant were to be severely damaged, including the possibility of the Gulf being rendered uninhabitable. This perspective, while alarming, is based on a single analyst’s assessment and should be treated as such.

As of the latest reports, the conflict continues with no sign of de-escalation, and international calls for restraint have yet to yield a halt to the strikes near the nuclear facility.