Attacks on Iranian Nuclear Sites: What Are the Health Risks of Radiation?

The attacks, which began on June 13, targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

RMN News War Desk
June 22, 2025

VIENNA – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported following recent attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran, including the Fordow uranium enrichment facility.

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi announced he will call an emergency meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors on Monday (June 23) in light of the “urgent situation” and the “increasingly serious situation in terms of nuclear safety and security” in Iran.

Director General Grossi stated that the IAEA has been informed by Iranian regulatory authorities that there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels after the strikes. He added, “As of this time, we don’t expect that there will be any health consequences for people or the environment outside the targeted sites“. The agency will continue to monitor and assess the situation, promising further updates as more information becomes available.

The attacks, which began on June 13, targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. According to U.S. President Donald Trump, the United States completed a “very successful attack” on these sites, with a “full payload of bombs” dropped on Fordow, a critical enrichment plant located deep within a remote mountainside.

Israeli officials reportedly confirmed their “full coordination” with the U.S. in planning these strikes. Before the attacks, these facilities contained nuclear material in the form of uranium enriched to different levels, which may cause radioactive and chemical contamination within the hit facilities.

In response to the escalating situation, Director General Grossi has reiterated his call for military restraint and “indispensable work towards” a diplomatic solution, a message he also conveyed to the United Nations Security Council.

He stressed his repeated stance that “nuclear facilities should never be attacked“. Grossi also emphasized the need for a cessation of hostilities to allow the IAEA to resume its vital inspection work in the country, which includes the necessary verification of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of a continued and timely exchange of information with Iran regarding issues related to nuclear safety, security, and safeguards.