The incident was reported amid ongoing US-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian sites, though there was no immediate official confirmation from Washington or Tel Aviv regarding the specific attack near the Bushehr facility.
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A projectile struck near the outer perimeter of the facility on Saturday morning, resulting in the death of one security personnel, Tasnim reported, reiterating that the impact did not reach critical infrastructure within the plant. While an auxiliary building sustained damage, authorities said there was no disruption to operations or power generation.
The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, located along Iran’s southern coast on the Persian Gulf, is the country’s first commercial nuclear power station, making it a strategically significant energy site. Officials emphasised that the strike did not compromise the plant’s core functions, even as the broader regional conflict continues to escalate.
In another development, US-Israeli strikes targeting a key petrochemical hub in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province wounded at least five people, with fears the toll could rise, Iranian media reported.
Citing a provincial official, reports said the strikes hit the Special Petrochemical Zone in Mahshahr, where explosions were heard across the complex and at least three companies were impacted.Deputy governor Valiollah Hayati said five people were injured, though it was not immediately clear if there were any fatalities, adding that the full extent of the damage remains unclear. Multiple Iranian outlets reported blasts at the site, with some warning of a “high chance” of casualties.
Separately, air attacks were also reported at the Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex in the same province, with parts of the facility sustaining damage.
Iran accuses IAEA of ‘complicity’
The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) has accused the International Atomic Energy Agency of “clear complicity” for not condemning recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to state broadcaster Press TV. The agency said the watchdog’s silence effectively aligns it with what it described as US-Israeli aggression.
In a statement shared on social media, AEOI chief Mohammad Eslami said he had repeatedly reached out to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, urging a formal condemnation of what he termed “illegal attacks” on sites used for peaceful energy production.
Also read: Iran accuses IAEA of “clear complicity” over silence on US-Israeli strikes against nuclear sites
The organisation warned that the IAEA’s failure to respond was “not merely inaction but clear complicity,” adding that such silence undermines global trust and damages the agency’s credibility. AEOI spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi said the targeted facilities were under international safeguards and reiterated that strikes on such sites could amount to a “war crime” due to potential humanitarian and security risks.
These accusations come alongside reports of damage to nuclear infrastructure. According to Press TV, the Khondab Heavy Water Plant suffered severe damage and is no longer operational after being struck on March 27, when a yellowcake production facility in Ardakan was also hit.
The repeated targeting of such facilities has raised concerns over regional safety, with human rights groups warning that any radioactive leak could trigger a humanitarian and environmental crisis extending beyond Iran’s borders.
