The head of the UN nuclear watchdog has warned that a direct attack on the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates could lead to severe radioactive consequences.
Addressing an emergency session of the UN Security Council following a recent drone attack targeting the facility, Rafael Grossi said the situation is highly concerning.
"This is a nuclear site in the Middle East, where the consequences of an attack could be most serious," Grossi said.
He stressed that the Barakah plant in the Abu Dhabi Emirate—some 300 kilometres away from the capital—is an operating nuclear facility containing thousands of kilograms of nuclear material.
"In case of an attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment," he said.
Grossi added that damage to external power supply lines could also pose serious risks, potentially leading to reactor core damage.
He warned that both scenarios would require emergency protective measures, including evacuations, sheltering and the use of stable iodine for distances extending to several hundred kilometres.
Grossi announced that he is soon travelling to the region to evaluate the "emergency preparedness and response capacities" of those countries.
On Sunday, UAE officials said a fire erupted near the Barakah power plant due to a drone strike.
The UAE said on Tuesday that a drone strike which sparked a fire near the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant on Sunday originated from Iraqi territory.
The Ministry of Defence said two additional drones intercepted the same day were also launched from Iraq.
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation confirmed on Sunday that the fire did not affect the plant’s safety or its critical systems, and that all units continued operating normally.
The UAE has launched an investigation into the source of the attack on the facility.
The developments come as regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched war against Iran in February, prompting retaliatory strikes in the Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
