Iran - contamination from radiation and toxic chemicals.

Israel’s air strikes on Iran’s nuclear programme have raised fears of contamination from radiation and toxic chemicals. The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global watchdog, has branded the targeting of nuclear infrastructure “deeply concerning”. Military escalation ‘‘increases the chance of a radiological release with serious consequences for people and the environment’’, Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday. Assaults on nuclear facilities pose evident safety risks but Israel’s attacks appear to have avoided the most dangerous targets such as power plants, scientists say. Here’s what we know so far. Have the air strikes triggered any nuclear contamination? The attack on the Natanz uranium enrichment facility has caused localised radioactivity, Iranian and international nuclear authorities have said, but it does not appear to be severe. The IAEA, in two assessments this week, said Israel’s strikes had damaged both underground enrichment halls at Natanz and above-ground facilities including a pilot fuel enrichment plant. Grossi said these had caused some contamination. But radiation levels outside the Natanz complex remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating “no external radiological impact to the population or the environment”, Grossi said on Monday.

FT 18th June 2025

https://www.ft.com/content/b717b84e-8cc8-48c8-9d8b-3a93c7198eee

Major radiation warning as Israel says it’s ‘on verge of destroying 10 nuclear sites’. International Atomic Energy Agency director Rafael Mariano Grossi said protective measures need to be put in place due to the risk of radiation at the Natanz nuclear facility. A major radiation warning has been issued after Israel’s Defence Minister said his country is “on the verge” of destroying “more than 10 nuclear targets” in Iran. Israel Katz said the Israeli Air Force will strike “very significant targets, strategic targets, targets of the regime and infrastructure” in Tehran today. One of the targets include the underground Fordow facility which Katz said is “an issue that will certainly be addressed.” The Natanz nuclear facility has already been hit by Israeli strikes and after the latest warning from Israel, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, warned of the widespread risks posed by attacks on such facilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there is a risk of of both radiological and chemical contamination within Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility.

Mirror 17th June 2025

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/major-radiation-warning-israel-says-35407962