Press Release (6 April 2026)
CITIZENS INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS U.S. STRIKE ON BUSHEHR: A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND A THREAT TO THE GULF REGION
Iran’s only operational nuclear facility, the Bushehr Power Plant, has come under repeated attack amid the ongoing illegal war against Iran by Israel and the United States (U.S.), heightening concerns over a potential nuclear incident that could have catastrophic consequences for countries across the Gulf region.
Constructed by Russia, the Bushehr facility is located in the coastal city of Bushehr, home to approximately 250,000 residents. It is the Middle East’s first nuclear power plant and currently operates a single reactor. Bushehr Unit 1 generates roughly 1,000 megawatts of electricity, supplying a significant portion of Iran’s national grid.
The latest attack by the U.S. and Israel on the plant was launched on April 4th, 2026, killing one security guard and causing damage to a side building, according to the state-run Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has formally condemned the attacks, citing what he described as a deliberate “lack of concern” for nuclear safety on the part of the United States and Israel. The Bushehr facility had now been “bombed” four times since the war erupted on February 28.
The implications of a serious strike on the Bushehr facility extend far beyond Iran’s borders, but to neighbouring countries as well, and the nuclear experts and regulatory community have been unequivocal on this point.
A strike against a nuclear reactor or spent fuel storage facility risks the release of radiological materials, including hazardous isotopes such as Caesium-137, into the atmosphere. These contaminants may be dispersed over wide areas through wind and water, posing long-term risks to food systems, soil, and drinking water sources. Direct exposure can result in severe health consequences, including radiation burns and increased cancer risks.
During Israel’s 12-day war on Iran last year, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council that an Israeli strike on the Bushehr power plant could trigger a regional nuclear emergency, leading to a significant release of radioactivity with transboundary impacts. Unlike a conventional weapons strike, the consequences of a nuclear release are not confined to a battlefield. They are inherited by entire populations and generations yet unborn.
Moreover, there is a legitimate concern regarding the vulnerability of the Gulf’s marine ecosystem. Radioactive contamination could severely affect marine life and persist due to the Gulf’s relatively shallow waters. In addition, the region’s heavy reliance on seawater desalination for drinking water heightens the risk to civilian populations, as many desalination facilities are not equipped to effectively filter radioactive materials.
It is also important to recognize that international humanitarian law strictly prohibits attacks on installations containing dangerous forces. Under Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions, nuclear facilities are afforded special protection due to the disproportionate harm that may result from their destruction.
Parties to a conflict are further obligated to distinguish between civilian and military infrastructure. The Bushehr facility, which supplies electricity for civilian use, falls within this protected category.
Citizens International calls upon all peace-loving countries to condemn the attacks against the power plant in Iran unequivocally. When Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant came under threat during the Russia-Ukraine war, the international response was swift, coordinated, and forceful. However, the international response has been, by comparison, muted when the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant was struck.
Citizens International rejects, categorically, the application of selective standards in matters of nuclear safety and international humanitarian law. We demand that the United Nations Security Council fulfill its Charter-mandated duty by taking serious, decisive action to hold the perpetrators accountable and prevent the region from descending into a nuclear catastrophe. Silence in the face of such risks undermines collective efforts to maintain international peace and security.
Imran Mohd Rasid
Executive Director
Citizens International
