Could Israel's bombing trigger a nuclear accident in Iran?

image via New Scientist

June 20, 2025, 5:21 PM

• •Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites raise concerns about radioactive accidents, despite experts assessing the risks as minimal.
• •Iran's nuclear program, with its enrichment sites and potential for weapons development, is the target of these attacks.
• •The IAEA has reported internal radiation leaks at the Natanz facility, but no external leaks have occurred.
• •Experts emphasize that the danger from bombing enrichment plants is relatively low, but a strike on a working nuclear reactor could be more hazardous.

Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have sparked fears of a potential radioactive disaster, prompting warnings from the IAEA director general. Despite these concerns, experts suggest the risks are minimal, as the attacks primarily target enrichment facilities rather than active reactors. The bombing of the Natanz facility has led to internal radiation leaks, but no external releases have been detected. However, the potential impact of targeting an active reactor, which could release dangerous radioactive isotopes, remains a significant concern.

Read original article