Can the Israel-Iran conflict spark the next Chernobyl or Fukushima disaster?
Missiles don't always just kill soldiers. Sometimes, they awaken buried horrors.The last few days have witnessed Israel unleashing a targeted assault on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, striking Natanz, Isfahan, and the underground fortress at Fordow. These weren't power plants or reactors under fire, but enrichment sites where uranium is processed and concentrated.As these facilities smolder under missile strikes, a chilling question reverberates: Could the next Middle East flashpoint become another Chernobyl—or worse?advertisement
What Remains UntouchedIran's nuclear power reactor at Bushehr and its research reactor in Tehran remain unscathed. This distinction matters critically. Nuclear reactors are deceptively fragile structures. A direct hit can breach containment buildings, disable cooling systems, and if fuel pools are destroyed, trigger catastrophic core meltdowns.The spectre of Fukushima looms large: radiation leaks spreading across vast territories, contaminating land and water for generations. Fortunately, those nightmare scenarios haven't materialised yet.The Real TargetsFordow, Natanz, and Isfahan are enrichment facilities, not weapons arsenals. These sites house centrifuges spinning uranium isotopes—U-235 and U-238—under careful supervision. The process involves enrichment, not detonation. That crucial line still holds.However, even without reactor meltdowns, the situation remains perilous. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed centrifuge damage at these facilities, with chemical and radiological contamination occurring within the plants. While external radiation levels remain stable for now, containment failures could unleash localised radiation leaks with devastating consequences.The health impacts aren't abstract: vomiting, severe skin burns, cancer, and long-term environmental contamination. These grim possibilities hang in the balance whenever enrichment bunkers become battlefields.advertisementHistorical PrecedentThis isn't Israel's first nuclear strike against regional neighbours. Iraq in 1981, Syria in 2007—both pre-emptive and surgical, executed before nuclear programs could advance. But Iran's facilities present greater challenges: older, deeper, and more dispersed infrastructure. Fordow, built beneath a mountain, exemplifies this defensive strategy.The immediate catalyst was a damning IAEA resolution revealing Iran's concealment of nuclear activities at three sites—the first such serious breach warning in two decades.The Fallout AheadWhile the ingredients for disaster exist, the recipe remains incomplete. Iran hasn't developed nuclear weapons, and conventional strikes cannot trigger nuclear explosions. Chernobyl's radioactive ghosts aren't rising yet.But these attacks have shattered the illusion that nuclear facilities are immune to warfare. If strikes continue, containment systems may fail. Even without mushroom clouds, the fallout—radiological, geopolitical, and humanitarian may have already begun.Tune InMust Watch
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Inside Israel's midnight blitz which took aim at Iran's nuclear arsenal: 60 jets, 100 bombs, and a nuclear target in flames
Israel-Iran War: Israel has launched a sweeping aerial assault on Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure, striking key sites in Tehran, Natanz, Arak and beyond. Dubbed Operation Rising Lion, the campaign involved over 60 fighter jets and more than 100 precision munitions. The strikes hit centrifuge and missile component factories, raising alarm over radiological safety. While Iran downplays the impact, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed multiple nuclear-linked sites were struck. With civilian casualties rising and global concern mounting, tensions between the two rivals are reaching dangerous heights. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Israel-Iran War: Heavy water reactor at Arak hit Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Parallel attack on Natanz fuel plant Tehran's missile and centrifuge sites targeted Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Iran's SPND headquarters destroyed Radiation and chemical contamination risks Fordow remains untouched for now Rising civilian toll and global fallout No regional backing for Iran yet In the most extensive Israeli air operation on Iranian soil to date, the Israel Defence Forces IDF ) have confirmed a large-scale strike campaign targeting Iran's nuclear and missile infrastructure. Over 60 fighter jets took part, dropping around 120 precision-guided munitions on dozens of sites, including centrifuge production plants and nuclear research to the IDF, the mission aimed to 'eliminate the existential threat to the State of Israel, significantly damage Iran's nuclear programme in all its components, and severely impact its missile array.'This operation, named 'Operation Rising Lion,' marks a dangerous escalation in the ongoing confrontation between the two of the key targets was the IR-40 heavy water reactor near Arak, formally known as the Khondab reactor. Though incomplete and not operational, it has long been a focal point of international concern due to its potential to produce weapons-grade IDF issued a blunt statement: 'This nuclear reactor in Arak was created for one purpose: to build a nuclear bomb. It has now been neutralised.'The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which monitors Iranian nuclear facilities, confirmed the strike but said there was no immediate radiological danger. 'IAEA has information the Khondab (former Arak) heavy water research reactor, under construction, was hit. It was not operational and contained no nuclear material, so no radiological effects. At present, IAEA has no information indicating the Khondab heavy water plant was hit,' the agency state television insisted 'there was no radiation danger whatsoever.'At the same time, Israeli jets struck near Natanz, a site at the heart of Iran's uranium enrichment efforts. The IDF said the facility housed 'unique components and equipment used for the development of nuclear weapons.'This is not the first time Natanz has been hit. In 2021, a suspected Israeli cyberattack crippled its centrifuge halls. This time, the physical infrastructure was the to the IAEA, the enrichment halls at Natanz suffered severe damage. 'The underground enrichment halls were severely damaged, if not destroyed altogether,' the agency confirmed, noting radiation levels remained Tehran itself, Israeli aircraft struck a major centrifuge production site. The IDF said the facility was 'intended to enable the Iranian regime to expand the scope and pace of its uranium enrichment for nuclear weapons development.'Centrifuges are central to the enrichment process. These delicate machines separate uranium-235 from uranium-238 by spinning at extreme speeds. Even small disruptions can cripple their function.'The Iranian regime is enriching uranium intended for the development of nuclear weapons,' the IDF stated. It said enrichment levels 'far exceed what is needed for civilian purposes.'Another critical target was the headquarters of Iran's Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND) in Tehran. The IDF described it as a centre of Iran's nuclear weapons R&D.'Among the sites attacked were military industrial sites for the production of missile components and sites for the production of raw materials used for casting rocket engines,' the IDF said. It added that SPND's headquarters was successfully struck, along with a separate facility producing an essential component of Iran's nuclear weapons was founded by Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, widely regarded as the architect of Iran's weapons programme. Fakhrizadeh was assassinated in 2020 in an operation also widely attributed to the scale of the strikes, no major radiological event has been confirmed so far. But experts warn of potential chemical Dolzikova of RUSI said the main concern lies in uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas. 'When UF6 interacts with water vapour in the air, it produces harmful chemicals,' she explained. Weather conditions could determine how far any contamination Peter Bryant, a professor at the University of Liverpool , noted that low-enrichment uranium is mainly hazardous if inhaled or ingested. 'Uranium is only dangerous if it gets physically inhaled or ingested or gets into the body at low enrichments,' he World Health Organization has expressed concern. 'Immediate and long-term impacts on the environment and health of people in Iran and across the region' are possible, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on social Israel has hit Natanz and Arak, the Fordow enrichment facility remains intact. Built deep inside a mountain, 90 metres underground, the site is out of reach for conventional Israeli munitions. American bunker-buster bombs would be required to damage plays a vital role. It produces most of Iran's uranium enriched to 60%—a level dangerously close to to the US Institute for Science and International Security, 'Iran can convert its current stock of 60 per cent enriched uranium into 233kg of weapon-grade uranium in three weeks at the Fordow plant,' which could yield up to nine nuclear attacks have led to rising civilian casualties. Human rights organisations report at least 639 deaths in Iran, though Tehran has not released official figures. Explosions in Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz forced thousands to flee in the early hours of US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line. In a post on social media, he wrote: 'He [Khamenei] is an easy target, but is safe there—we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.' He has also rejected Iran's claim of peaceful nuclear intentions, demanding its 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.'Trump has returned to Washington from the G7 summit to confer with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but has yet to commit to direct US military its strong regional ties, Iran's allies have not intervened militarily. Russia and China, though vocal in support, have not moved beyond statements. Iran's proxy forces in the region, including Hezbollah , have fired missiles at Israel, but not in large Abdul Rahim Mousavi of Iran's army has vowed retaliation. 'The punishment operation will be carried out soon,' he missiles continue to fly and diplomatic efforts stall, the possibility of full-scale regional conflict is growing by the hour.(with inputs from Agencies)
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Can the Israel-Iran conflict spark the next Chernobyl or Fukushima disaster?
Missiles don't always just kill soldiers. Sometimes, they awaken buried last few days have witnessed Israel unleashing a targeted assault on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, striking Natanz, Isfahan, and the underground fortress at Fordow. These weren't power plants or reactors under fire, but enrichment sites where uranium is processed and these facilities smolder under missile strikes, a chilling question reverberates: Could the next Middle East flashpoint become another Chernobyl—or worse?advertisement What Remains UntouchedIran's nuclear power reactor at Bushehr and its research reactor in Tehran remain unscathed. This distinction matters critically. Nuclear reactors are deceptively fragile structures. A direct hit can breach containment buildings, disable cooling systems, and if fuel pools are destroyed, trigger catastrophic core spectre of Fukushima looms large: radiation leaks spreading across vast territories, contaminating land and water for generations. Fortunately, those nightmare scenarios haven't materialised Real TargetsFordow, Natanz, and Isfahan are enrichment facilities, not weapons arsenals. These sites house centrifuges spinning uranium isotopes—U-235 and U-238—under careful supervision. The process involves enrichment, not detonation. That crucial line still even without reactor meltdowns, the situation remains perilous. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed centrifuge damage at these facilities, with chemical and radiological contamination occurring within the plants. While external radiation levels remain stable for now, containment failures could unleash localised radiation leaks with devastating health impacts aren't abstract: vomiting, severe skin burns, cancer, and long-term environmental contamination. These grim possibilities hang in the balance whenever enrichment bunkers become PrecedentThis isn't Israel's first nuclear strike against regional neighbours. Iraq in 1981, Syria in 2007—both pre-emptive and surgical, executed before nuclear programs could advance. But Iran's facilities present greater challenges: older, deeper, and more dispersed infrastructure. Fordow, built beneath a mountain, exemplifies this defensive immediate catalyst was a damning IAEA resolution revealing Iran's concealment of nuclear activities at three sites—the first such serious breach warning in two Fallout AheadWhile the ingredients for disaster exist, the recipe remains incomplete. Iran hasn't developed nuclear weapons, and conventional strikes cannot trigger nuclear explosions. Chernobyl's radioactive ghosts aren't rising these attacks have shattered the illusion that nuclear facilities are immune to warfare. If strikes continue, containment systems may fail. Even without mushroom clouds, the fallout—radiological, geopolitical, and humanitarian may have already InMust Watch
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Explained: What are nuclear contamination risks from Israel's attacks on Iran?
Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear installations so far pose only limited risks of contamination, experts say. But they warn that any attack on the country's nuclear power station at Bushehr could cause a nuclear disaster. Israel says it is determined to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities in its military campaign, but that it also wants to avoid any nuclear disaster in a region that is home to tens of millions of people and produces much of the world's oil. Fears of catastrophe rippled through the Gulf on Thursday when the Israeli military said it had struck a site in Bushehr on the Gulf coast - home to Iran's only nuclear power station - only to say later that the announcement was a mistake. What has Israel hit so far ? Israel has announced attacks on nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan, Arak and Tehran itself. Israel says it aims to stop Iran building an atom bomb. Iran denies ever seeking one. The international nuclear watchdog IAEA has reported damage to the uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, to the nuclear complex at Isfahan, including the Uranium Conversion Facility, and to centrifuge production facilities in Karaj and Tehran. Israel has also attacked Arak, also known as Khondab. The IAEA said Israeli military strikes hit the Khondab Heavy Water Research Reactor, which was under construction and had not begun operating, and damaged the nearby plant that makes heavy water. The IAEA said that it was not operational and contained no nuclear material, so there were no radiological effects. In an update of its assessment on Friday, the IAEA said key buildings at the site were damaged. Heavy-water reactors can be used to produce plutonium which, like enriched uranium, can be used to make an atom bomb. What risks do these strikes pose ? Peter Bryant, a professor at the University of Liverpool in England who specialises in radiation protection science and nuclear energy policy, said he is not too concerned about fallout risks from the strikes so far. He noted that the Arak site was not operational while the Natanz facility was underground and no release of radiation was reported. "The issue is controlling what has happened inside that facility, but nuclear facilities are designed for that," he said. "Uranium is only dangerous if it gets physically inhaled or ingested or gets into the body at low enrichments," he said. Darya Dolzikova, a senior research fellow at London think tank RUSI, said attacks on facilities at the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle - the stages where uranium is prepared for use in a reactor - pose primarily chemical, not radiological risks. At enrichment facilities, UF6, or uranium hexafluoride, is the concern. "When UF6 interacts with water vapour in the air, it produces harmful chemicals," she said. The extent to which any material is dispersed would depend on factors including the weather, she added. 'In low winds, much of the material can be expected to settle in the vicinity of the facility; in high winds, the material will travel farther, but is also likely to disperse more widely.' The risk of dispersal is lower for underground facilities. Simon Bennett, who leads the civil safety and security unit at the University of Leicester in the UK, said risks to the environment were minimal if Israel hits subterranean facilities because you are "burying nuclear material in possibly thousands of tonnes of concrete, earth and rock". The major concern would be a strike on Iran's nuclear reactor at Bushehr. Richard Wakeford, Honorary Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Manchester, said that while contamination from attacks on enrichment facilities would be "mainly a chemical problem" for the surrounding areas, extensive damage to large power reactors "is a different story". Radioactive elements would be released either through a plume of volatile materials or into the sea, he added. James Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said an attack on Bushehr "could cause an absolute radiological catastrophe", but that attacks on enrichment facilities were "unlikely to cause significant off-site consequences". Before uranium goes into a nuclear reactor it is barely radioactive, he said. "The chemical form uranium hexafluoride is toxic ... but it actually doesn't tend to travel large distances and it's barely radioactive. So far the radiological consequences of Israel's attacks have been virtually nil," he added, while stating his opposition to Israel's campaign. Bennett of the University of Leicester said it would be "foolhardy for the Israelis to attack" Bushehr because they could pierce the reactor, which would mean releasing radioactive material into the atmosphere. Why are Gulf states especially worried ? For Gulf states, the impact of any strike on Bushehr would be worsened by the potential contamination of Gulf waters, jeopardizing a critical source of desalinated potable water. In the UAE, desalinated water accounts for more than 80% of drinking water, while Bahrain became fully reliant on desalinated water in 2016, with 100% of groundwater reserved for contingency plans, according to authorities. Qatar is 100% dependent on desalinated water. In Saudi Arabia, a much larger nation with a greater reserve of natural groundwater, about 50% of the water supply came from desalinated water as of 2023, according to the General Authority for Statistics. While some Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates have access to more than one sea to draw water from, countries like Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait are crowded along the shoreline of the Gulf with no other coastline. "If a natural disaster, oil spill, or even a targeted attack were to disrupt a desalination plant, hundreds of thousands could lose access to freshwater almost instantly," said Nidal Hilal, Professor of Engineering and Director of New York University Abu Dhabi's Water Research Center. "Coastal desalination plants are especially vulnerable to regional hazards like oil spills and potential nuclear contamination," he said.
