IAEA Highlights Nuclear Safety Risks and Global Development Efforts

The Director General stressed that attacks on facilities containing nuclear material create unacceptable risks and should never occur under any circumstances.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that nuclear facilities located in conflict zones continue to face serious safety and security risks, as Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi briefed the agency's Board of Governors during its latest meeting in Vienna.

Grossi highlighted the agency's ongoing work in Ukraine, where more than 180 IAEA personnel have been deployed since the conflict began to help maintain nuclear safety and security standards. Particular concern remains focused on the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, which has faced repeated challenges linked to damage to external power infrastructure.

The IAEA recently helped facilitate a temporary local ceasefire to allow repairs to a damaged power line serving the plant and is monitoring activities around the site to ensure continued safe access. Grossi also reported that a drone strike recently damaged part of a turbine building at the facility.

IAEA teams have continued to observe military activity near nuclear sites, including drone incursions and air raid alerts. At the Chornobyl exclusion zone, a drone strike on a spent fuel storage facility caused structural damage to part of the complex, including the agency's safeguards office. Radiation levels remained within normal limits despite the damage.

Agency calls for stronger protection of nuclear facilities

The Director General stressed that attacks on facilities containing nuclear material create unacceptable risks and should never occur under any circumstances. He urged countries to uphold international principles designed to protect nuclear installations during periods of conflict.

Developments in Iran also featured prominently during the board meeting. Grossi updated member states on safeguards activities and the broader regional security situation, noting that the agency has had limited access to some nuclear facilities affected by military actions in 2025.

The IAEA recently resumed some verification activities in Iran, including an inspection at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. Grossi encouraged continued cooperation between Iran and the agency while expressing support for diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving outstanding issues surrounding the country's nuclear programme.

The Director General also discussed regional nuclear safety during visits to Gulf countries and referenced a drone strike that damaged an electrical installation at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates. He reiterated that nuclear safety standards must apply equally everywhere, regardless of location or political circumstances.

Nuclear technology expands support for health, food and energy

Beyond safety and security matters, the IAEA reported significant progress across several global development initiatives that use nuclear science and technology to address major challenges. The agency's Rays of Hope programme continues to expand cancer care services across Africa, including support for Malawi's first public radiotherapy facility. The Atoms4Food initiative, developed in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization, now includes 43 participating countries working to strengthen food security and agricultural productivity.

The IAEA is also providing additional equipment to support efforts against the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Programmes promoting women's participation in nuclear science continue to grow, with hundreds of women receiving advanced education and professional training through the Marie Sklodowska-Curie and Lise Meitner initiatives.

Grossi also introduced ATLAS, a new programme exploring the use of small modular reactors for civilian maritime transport and offshore energy applications. The initiative will be formally launched at a ministerial-level event in Washington later this year.

According to the agency, demand for nuclear expertise continues to rise globally. The IAEA's technical cooperation programme supported 151 countries and territories in 2025, achieving its highest recorded performance level while expanding assistance in health, agriculture, safety, security and scientific development. Grossi concluded by emphasising that international cooperation remains essential to ensuring nuclear technology continues to support peace, economic development and human wellbeing around the world.