On the 20th, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Grossi stated that if Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is attacked, it could trigger the "most serious" consequences seen since any Iranian nuclear facility was assaulted.
In a statement issued on the 20th, the IAEA indicated that Grossi delivered a video speech that day at the UN Security Council’s emergency public meeting on the Middle East situation, saying that the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is an operational facility with thousands of kilograms of nuclear material. In the past few hours, multiple countries in the Middle East have directly expressed to him their concerns about the potential attack on the Bushehr plant.
Grossi said that if the Bushehr plant suffers a direct attack, it could lead to a "very large" release of radioactive material into the environment. "Similarly, if the attack disables the plant’s only two power supply lines, it could cause reactor core meltdown and release a large amount of radioactive material."
Grossi pointed out that in the worst-case scenario, both situations would require evacuation, provision of shelters for residents, administration of iodine tablets, and other protective measures. The affected area could range from several kilometers to hundreds of kilometers. Radiation monitoring would cover hundreds of kilometers, and food restrictions might need to be implemented.
The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is Iran’s only nuclear power station. It is located in southern Iran’s Bushehr Province, facing Kuwait across the sea, at a distance of about 300 kilometers.
Grossi noted that any action targeting the Tehran Nuclear Research Reactor could likewise bring serious consequences for large areas of Tehran and its residents.