Projectile strikes premises of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant — IAEA confirms, calls for maximum restraint; no reactor damage or radiation

A projectile struck the premises of Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on Tuesday evening, March 17, Iran reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation confirmed the strike, with Tasnim news agency reporting the projectile hit the vicinity of the plant at around 7 PM local time. The IAEA said it had been informed by Iran that the projectile hit the plant premises, but no damage to the plant itself or injuries to staff were reported. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi immediately reiterated his call for maximum restraint during the conflict, saying the nuclear facilities must be protected. Rosatom director Likhachev (Russia built and operates the plant jointly with Iran) provided more detail, saying: 'A strike hit the area adjacent to the metrology service building located at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site, in close proximity to the operating power unit.' He confirmed no nuclear or radiation safety issues. Bushehr is Iran's only operational nuclear power plant, a 1,000 MW Russian-built reactor on the Persian Gulf coast. While the projectile did not damage the reactor, the strike marks a dangerous new threshold in the conflict — the first time a nuclear power plant has been struck. Responsibility for the projectile was not immediately claimed; it is unclear whether it was a deliberate strike, a misfired projectile, or debris.