The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, described the recent attack with an explosive drone against a nuclear plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a “very serious event,” and warned of “unacceptable risks.”
The attack, attributed by UAE to a drone launched from Iraq, caused a fire on May 17 at an electrical facility located outside the perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant.
The plant, in operation since 2019, represents the first nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates and is part of the national program that seeks to diversify its energy sources and reduce dependence on gas and oil.
During a press conference in Vienna, within the framework of an extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, Grossi highlighted the “very successful reaction” of the Emirati nuclear operator following the incident.
“The system responded quite well. But I am sure that analyses and evaluations will be carried out, for example, on the layout of the external power supply lines,” stated the general director.
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This photograph shows the Barakah nuclear power plant, under construction, in the western desert of Abu Dhabi (Arun Girija/Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation/WAM via AP/Archive
Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia convened an extraordinary meeting of the Board, held behind closed doors to address the attack in the UAE.
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In his opening remarks at the meeting, Grossi stressed that “military activities against nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities entail unacceptable risks”.
“Nuclear safety is fundamental and applicable to everyone, without exception. There are no double or triple standards here for the IAEA. An attack on any facility, wherever it may be, is unacceptable, a red line, a taboo,” stated Grossi.
The IAEA Board is scheduled to meet next Monday for its quarterly summer meeting, which will address the situation in various conflict zones, such as Ukraine, Iran, and the Persian Gulf.
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, several nuclear facilities have been attacked.
The Zaporizhzhia power plant, the largest in Europe and located in southern Ukraine, was targeted by drones and projectiles from both Russia and Ukraine. Furthermore, the United States and Israel attacked several atomic facilities in Iran in June 2025 and March 2026.
