Iran's only nuclear power plant hit by unidentified missile

2026-03-18 12:17:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Iran's only nuclear power plant has been hit by an unidentified projectile, the plant's Russian operator said, adding that there were no injuries or radiation leaks.

This is the first time the Bushehr nuclear power plant has been hit since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran. The state-owned Rosatom company said in a post on Telegram that the attack occurred “on March 17, at 18:11 Moscow time.”

"An attack was carried out in the territory adjacent to the metrological service building, located in the industrial area of ??the Bushehr nuclear power plant, in the immediate vicinity of the operating power unit," the statement said.

"The radiation situation at the platform is normal ," Rosatom said, adding that there were no casualties among its employees.

In response, the International Atomic Energy Agency called for "maximum restraint."

"IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reiterates call for maximum restraint during the conflict to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident ," the agency said in a post on X.

Bushehr is Iran's only nuclear power plant. Located on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf, it is fueled by uranium produced in Russia, not Iran, and is monitored by the IAEA.

Meanwhile, local Israeli media reported on March 18 that at least two people were killed in an Iranian missile attack in Israel, as Iran continued to launch missiles and drones across the Middle East.

This reporting comes a day after the killing of Ali Larijani, one of Iran's most powerful figures and a confidant of the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was confirmed in an airstrike in the capital Tehran.

The Strait of Hormuz – through which a fifth of the world's oil shipments pass – remains closed due to attacks on ships.

US President Donald Trump had called on countries around the world to help reopen sea routes for oil transport.

But, recently he said that the United States has been informed by most of its NATO allies that they do not want to be involved in the country's military operation in Iran.

Meanwhile, Joseph Kent, head of the United States National Counterterrorism Center, said he is resigning due to the military operation in Iran.

Iran's attacks on leading crude oil producing countries in the Gulf region have contributed to a significant increase in energy prices in many countries. /CNA