The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has warned that a direct strike on the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Barakah nuclear power plant could result in severe radioactive consequences.

Addressing an emergency session of the UN Security Council following a recent drone strike targeting the facility, Rafael Grossi stated that the situation is extremely alarming.

"This is a nuclear facility in the Middle East, where the consequences of an attack could be catastrophic," Grossi warned.

He emphasized that the Barakah plant, located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi approximately 300 kilometers from the capital, is an operational nuclear facility holding thousands of kilograms of nuclear material.

"In the event of an attack on the Barakah nuclear power plant, a direct hit could lead to an extremely high release of radioactivity into the environment," he said.

Grossi further explained that damage to external power supply lines also poses a severe risk, potentially leading to damage to the reactor core.

He warned that both scenarios would necessitate emergency protective measures, including evacuations, sheltering, and the administration of stable iodine across areas extending up to several hundred kilometers.

Meanwhile, Grossi announced that he is traveling to the region soon to assess the "emergency preparedness and response capabilities" of the involved nations.

On Sunday, UAE officials reported that a drone strike had occurred near the Barakah power plant, triggering a fire.

On Tuesday, the UAE stated that the drone strike causing Sunday's fire at the Barakah nuclear power plant originated from Iraqi territory.
Source: TRT World