Attacks on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (2026)

The attacks on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (2026) occurred within the context of military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, which began on 28 February 2026, when multiple missiles and projectiles struck the site of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in March 2026.

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, 2019 - (Anadolu Ajansı)

First Missile Impact and Official Iranian Statements (17–18 March 2026)

The official statement regarding the first missile impact on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site was issued by the Iran Atomic Energy Organization on 17 March 2026. The statement confirmed that a missile had struck the plant site located on the coast of the Persian Gulf.

In a statement released by the Iran Atomic Energy Organization’s Public Relations Unit, it was reported that following the attack, “there were no casualties, no material damage occurred, and no part of the plant was damaged”.

The statement further emphasized that attacks on nuclear facilities are in violation of international regulations. Iran’s assessment included the statement that “such actions could lead to irreversible consequences for the entire region, including the countries bordering the Persian Gulf.””

Satellite Imagery and Technical Assessments (19 March 2026)

On 19 March 2026, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) conducted a technical assessment analyzing satellite imagery of the area around the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. Based on high-resolution Airbus satellite images, a crater from a munition impact was identified approximately 350 meters from the reactor.

Satellite imagery analyzed by the Institute for Science and International Security – ISIS, 18 March 2026 - (Institute for Science and International Security – ISIS)

According to satellite data, the point of impact was found to contain an unidentified structure that was destroyed as a result of the attack.

Images from a week prior to the attack showed the presence of an object in the same area, estimated to be approximately 5 meters in length.

Technical assessments confirmed that no damage was detected in other parts of the plant complex and that the nuclear reactor remained unaffected.

Analysis of the debris distribution in the satellite imagery indicated that particles from the explosion were dispersed toward the south, in the direction of the Persian Gulf. This pattern suggested that the munition likely originated from the north.

Consistent with data from the International Atomic Energy Agency, it was reported that no damage occurred to the reactor and no personnel were injured.

Attack on 24 March 2026 and IAEA Incident Report

Another attack on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site occurred around 21:08 on 24 March 2026 (IRST). The incident was reported by Iran’s Nuclear Regulatory Organization to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

According to the IAEA’s incident report, a projectile (missile or shell) struck within the plant compound. The same report stated that the attack took place as part of “air and missile strikes carried out by the Zionist regime and the United States of America.””

Technical evaluations conducted after the incident confirmed that “no damage occurred at the facility, no personnel were injured, and the plant’s operational status remained normal.”

The IAEA incident classification did not assign an INES (International Nuclear Event Scale) rating to the event.

The same report also noted the following findings regarding the impact on human health and the environment:

• No radiation release occurred beyond authorized boundaries,
• No excessive radiation exposure was experienced by the public or workers,
• No damage occurred to radiological barriers,
• No contamination spread occurred within the facility.

The IAEA report further emphasized the need to protect the safety of nuclear facilities and personnel, stating that nuclear facilities must not be placed at risk by military actions.

On the same day, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), based on Iran’s official notification, announced that another missile had struck the plant facilities within the same day. According to Iran’s statement, no damage occurred at the plant and no personnel were injured. In his remarks on these developments, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterated that maximum restraint is necessary to prevent nuclear security risks during hostilities.

International Reactions and Diplomatic Statements

Various official statements were issued internationally regarding the attacks on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site. On 18 March 2026, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made the following statement regarding the attack:

“We strongly condemn this irresponsible and utterly unacceptable missile attack. Tel Aviv and Washington must refrain from reckless strikes against nuclear infrastructure. This increases the risk of a radiological and environmental catastrophe in the region.”

The same statement called on the parties involved: “We urgently call on the warring parties to immediately pursue a ceasefire and efforts to reduce tensions. Continued conflict could lead to unprecedented negative consequences for the entire Middle East, including the nuclear sector.”

On 23 March 2026, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in his statement on attacks against nuclear facilities in Iran, characterized such actions as “extremely dangerous”. Peskov used the phrase: “This could lead to irreversible consequences.” He also stated that the continuation of attacks on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant would constitute a very significant security threat.

On 25 March 2026, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterated his call for maximum restraint to prevent nuclear security risks following new attacks on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site.

In the IAEA’s statement issued on the same date, it was noted that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been targeted multiple times since the beginning of the U.S.-Israel military strikes on 28 February 2026.

On 25 March 2026, another statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed “deep anger” over the attack on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site and described the attack as a “careless and irresponsible act”.

Rosatom Personnel Evacuations and Operational Status at the Plant (25 March 2026)

Following the attacks on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site, statements were issued by the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) regarding personnel evacuations.

On 25 March 2026, Rosatom’s General Director Aleksey Likhachev announced that a new evacuation process had been initiated due to security conditions at the plant site. According to the announcement, approximately 163 people were evacuated from Bushehr toward the Iran-Armenia border.

In his statement, Likhachev said: “Today, at approximately 07:20 Moscow time, 163 people departed from Bushehr toward the Iran-Armenia border.”

The same statement indicated that approximately 300 people remain at the plant site, with some continuing their duties to monitor facility equipment. Rosatom had previously announced the withdrawal of 150 personnel from the plant site following the start of the U.S.-Israel attacks.

It was also stated that Rosatom is overseeing the construction of two new reactors at the plant and that the attacks occurred while this construction was ongoing. In a separate statement made at the same time, it was indicated that a third phase of personnel evacuation was being planned and that the number of experts on site had been temporarily reduced to a minimum level. These statements also confirmed that no fatalities or injuries had occurred at the plant as a result of the attacks.

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, 2010 - (Anadolu Ajansı)

Technical and Radiological Safety Status

Following the attacks on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site, technical assessments confirmed that the facility’s security and radiological conditions remained intact.

In the 24 March 2026 incident report submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it was stated that the overall status of the plant remained normal after the attack. The report also confirmed that no radiation release occurred beyond authorized boundaries and that no members of the public or workers had been exposed to excessive radiation.

Technical evaluations of the facility’s safety systems indicated that no damage occurred to radiological barriers, critical systems including fuel were unaffected, no contamination spread occurred within the facility, and no weakening of defense layers was detected.

Additionally, it was reported that no physical injuries or fatalities occurred and no ongoing technical issues were identified. International technical assessments also confirmed that the reactor was unaffected and that nuclear safety systems continued to function normally.

Technical and Historical Characteristics of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant

The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf in Iran and is the country’s only operational nuclear power plant. The plant has an installed capacity of 1,000 megawatts.

The development of the plant proceeded as follows:

• In 1974, the Iran Atomic Energy Organization began its operations.
• In 1976, an agreement was signed between Iran and Germany for the construction of a nuclear power plant.
• In 1979, following the Iranian Revolution, German contractors abandoned the project.
• Between 1980 and 1988, the project was interrupted due to Iraqi bombing of Bushehr during the Iran-Iraq War.
• In 1995, an agreement was signed between Iran and Russia for the construction of the plant.

The plant began operations on 4 September 2011, initially producing 60 megawatts of electricity.

In 2012, the plant began operating at full capacity. As of 11 March 2026, following the evacuation of 150 personnel to Russia, approximately 450 employees remain at the plant.