The UN’s nuclear watchdog has urged “maximum restraint” after strikes targeted a key nuclear site in Iran and hit areas near a nuclear facility in Israel, heightening concerns over the risk of a wider nuclear-safety incident amid regional escalations.
In a post on X on Saturday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iranian authorities had informed it that the Natanz nuclear site was targeted in a recent attack linked to the ongoing U.S.-Israel campaign.
The agency said no increase in off-site radiation levels had been detected, and it was continuing to assess the situation.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned against military activity near nuclear infrastructure, saying such actions carry serious risks and could trigger a nuclear-safety incident if the situation escalates further.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said the strike hit the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan enrichment facility at Natanz, one of the country’s main nuclear sites.
Authorities said no radioactive material had leaked and that there was no immediate risk to nearby residents, while accusing the United States and Israel of carrying out the attack.
Natanz has been repeatedly targeted in recent months, including earlier this month, as well as during previous strikes last year on other major facilities such as Fordow and Isfahan.
The IAEA has been informed by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked today. No increase in off-site radiation levels reported. IAEA is looking into the report.
IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi reiterates call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear… pic.twitter.com/jDCWYbOwao
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) March 21, 2026
Strikes near Israeli nuclear facility
In a separate update also shared on Saturday, the IAEA said it was also monitoring the situation in Israel after Iranian missile strikes reached the southern city of Dimona, home to the Negev Nuclear Research Center.
The agency said it had received no indication of damage to the facility and confirmed that no abnormal radiation levels had been recorded.
Israeli emergency services said at least 78 people were injured in Dimona, some seriously, after ballistic missiles struck the city on Saturday evening. Grossi again urged restraint, warning that military activity near nuclear sites increases the risk of a wider nuclear-safety incident.
The IAEA is aware of reports of an incident in the city of Dimona, Israel, involving a missile impact and has not received any indication of damage to the nuclear research center Negev.
Information from regional States indicates that no abnormal radiation levels have been… pic.twitter.com/vJ6AlNHGmO
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) March 21, 2026
Escalation revives earlier warnings over nuclear risks in the Gulf
The developments come amid a widening confrontation between Iran and Israel following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that began on 28 February.
Tehran has since launched repeated drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, as well as locations across the Gulf region hosting U.S. military assets. The IAEA said it continues to closely monitor the situation as concerns grow over the potential consequences of military operations near nuclear facilities.
Across the Gulf, concerns over the risks of targeting nuclear infrastructure are longstanding. Regional leaders have previously warned that any strike on such sites could carry severe environmental consequences, particularly for countries reliant on shared waters and desalination.
In a March 2025 interview on The Tucker Carlson Show, Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, warned that an attack on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant could have devastating regional effects.
“The water would be entirely contaminated… no water, no fish, nothing, it has no life,” he said, pointing to the potential collapse of marine ecosystems and critical water sources.
He added that countries such as Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates could face severe shortages within days, given their heavy reliance on desalinated seawater.
🇺🇸🇶🇦🇮🇷 Qatari PM Warns of Catastrophe if Iran’s Nuclear Plant is Attacked
In a recent interview with Tucker Carlson, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammad bin Jassim Abdulrahman Al Thaniissued a stark warning:
“If Iran’s nuclear power plant in Bushehr is attacked, the Persian Gulf’s… pic.twitter.com/33FSrgJc1K
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) March 8, 2025
