President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had “obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear facilities.
President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had “obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear facilities, including the deeply buried Fordow site, in coordinated strikes with Israel. Despite fears, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no increased off-site radiation.
The strikes targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, while Israel also hit Arak and Tehran. Iran maintains it has never sought nuclear weapons. The IAEA confirmed damage but said some struck sites lacked nuclear material.
Experts say contamination risks are low. “When UF6 interacts with water vapour… it produces harmful chemicals,” said Darya Dolzikova of RUSI. “But underground facilities reduce that risk.” James Acton of Carnegie added UF6 is “barely radioactive.”
The major concern remains Iran’s Bushehr reactor. An erroneous Israeli claim of a strike there caused panic. “An attack on Bushehr could cause an absolute radiological catastrophe,” Acton warned.
Gulf nations remain on alert due to their reliance on desalinated water.