An incident at an Iranian nuclear power plant has raised concerns about a potential radioactive event. Reports indicate that a projectile hit the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, with both Russia and Iran acknowledging the incident. However, there is no confirmation yet on whether any nuclear material was released during the event on Tuesday evening.

According to Russia’s state-run Tass news agency, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev stated that the strike targeted an area near the metrology service building at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, close to the operational power unit. The plant is operated by Russian technicians using Russian-manufactured, low-enriched uranium.

Attacks on nuclear facilities pose a significant risk of releasing radioactive substances into the environment, a potential catastrophe during times of conflict. Situated on the Persian Gulf, the contamination of the waters near Bushehr could have severe consequences for the millions of people residing in the Gulf States, especially since these states heavily rely on desalination plants for their water needs.

Rosatom confirmed that no personnel were injured in the incident and that the radiation levels at the site remain normal. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization also reported that there was no damage to the plant, and no financial or human losses were incurred. Iran later attributed the strike to the United States and Israel, as per Tass reports.

The International Atomic Energy Agency acknowledged that a projectile hit the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant premises on Tuesday, as reported by Iran. Fortunately, no harm to the plant or its staff was reported. The nature of the projectile that struck the complex remains unknown, with neither Iran nor Russia releasing images of the damage.

Situated 750 kilometers south of Tehran, Bushehr accommodates an Iranian navy base and a dual-purpose airport with air defense systems safeguarding the vicinity. The site had been targeted by Iraq during the 1980s war with Iran to hinder Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. In 2011, the plant was successfully connected to the power grid with Russian assistance.

While the US conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities in June, damaging crucial centrifuge equipment, the operational Bushehr nuclear power station was spared.