Gulf ambassadors raise concern about safety of nuclear facilities amid Israel-Iran conflict

ReutersLast Updated: Jun 21, 2025, 05:02:00 PM IST

Synopsis

Gulf Cooperation Council ambassadors conveyed their apprehension to the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, regarding the safety of nuclear facilities near their nations amidst the ongoing Israeli-Iranian tensions. During a Vienna meeting, the ambassadors cautioned Grossi about the potentially severe consequences of targeting these facilities, highlighting concerns about contamination following a mistaken Israeli military statement regarding the Bushehr plant.

Gulf Cooperation Council ambassadors have expressed concerns to U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi about the safety of nuclear facilities close to their countries amid the Israeli-Iranian crisis, Qatar state news agency reported on Saturday.

The ambassadors warned Grossi during a meeting in Vienna about the "dangerous repercussions" of targeting nuclear facilities.

The warning comes after the Israeli military said at one point on Thursday that it had struck the Russian-built Bushehr facility, but later said the comment had been made by mistake. Bushehr is Iran's only operating nuclear power plant, which sits on the Gulf coast.

The potential consequences of an attack on the plant - contaminating the air and water - have long been a concern in the Gulf states.