UN Watchdog Says No Radiation Spike Detected Near Iran After Strikes

(MENAFN) The United Nations' nuclear oversight body announced Monday that radiation monitoring across Iran's neighboring states has returned no abnormal readings in the wake of recent military strikes on the country — though officials were careful to stress that the broader situation continues to warrant serious alarm.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi addressed the agency's Board of Governors, confirming that radiation levels recorded along Iran's borders remain within standard background parameters.

"There is no indication that any of the nuclear installations, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the Tehran Research Reactor, or other nuclear fuel cycle facilities, have been damaged or hit," Grossi said.

Grossi further disclosed that the IAEA's Incident and Emergency Centre has been activated with a dedicated monitoring team tracking developments in real time. He acknowledged, however, that communication with Iran's nuclear regulatory authorities has yet to be re-established — a gap that compounds existing uncertainties.

The IAEA chief also flagged a structural concern amplifying the crisis: the concentration of nuclear power plants and research reactors throughout the region significantly elevates safety risks as military operations continue to escalate.

"We therefore urge utmost restraint in all military operations," he said, reiterating that "armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place."

Grossi did not soften his overall assessment of the trajectory, characterizing conditions on the ground as deeply troubling and warning that the possibility of a radiological release carrying grave consequences could not be dismissed. He emphasized that any lasting resolution to the crisis must be pursued through negotiation rather than force.

"Diplomacy is hard, but it is never impossible," he added.

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