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Saudi nuclear watchdog, IAEA confirm no radiation detected after US strikes on Iran

Saudi nuclear watchdog, IAEA confirm no radiation detected after US strikes on Iran

Saudi Gazette4 hours ago

TEHRAN — Saudi Arabia's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission confirmed on Sunday that no radioactive contamination has been detected in the Kingdom or across the Gulf region following U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The statement was issued hours after Washington announced airstrikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, including the heavily fortified Fordo facility.
'The Kingdom and the Gulf's environment remain safe. No radiation traces have been recorded as a result of the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites,' the Saudi authority said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) echoed the findings, confirming that there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels reported so far.
'IAEA will provide further assessments on the situation in Iran as more information becomes available,' the agency said in a post on X.
Iranian authorities also said no signs of radioactive contamination had been observed and assured that there is 'no danger to residents living near the affected sites.'The reassurance from nuclear watchdogs comes amid heightened regional anxiety, following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement early Sunday that American forces conducted 'very successful' strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Trump said the attacks targeted Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan.Hostilities in the region have escalated dramatically since June 13, when Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iranian territory. In response, Iran has fired dozens of missiles at Israeli cities.Israeli authorities report at least 25 deaths and hundreds of injuries from Iranian strikes, while Iran's Health Ministry said 430 people have been killed and over 3,500 wounded in Israeli attacks.The IAEA said it remains in close contact with Iranian authorities and will continue to monitor developments on the ground. —

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The United States, Israel's closest ally, has now directly joined the campaign. Experts have warned that the latest US strikes could have 'catastrophic' economic and security implications for Pakistan. 'The economic implications of a wider war would be catastrophic for Pakistan. First and foremost, if the Strait of Hormuz is closed, our major concern will be the import of oil, as most of our oil supplies come from the Middle East,' Shakeel Ramay, a Pakistani economist, told Arab News. 'This would severely impact our economy since a significant portion of our power grid is powered by imported oil and gas from the region. The disruption would affect electricity production and have far-reaching consequences for our transportation network as well. The government will need to manage rising prices in the short term.' Lt. Gen. 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