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Herald Sun
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Herald Sun
If Iran's bunkers are busted, what might escape?
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. Remember Chernobyl? Remember Fukushima? So, is bombing Iran's nuclear facilities really such a good idea? Concern is growing across the Middle East that the fallout of Israel's assault on Iran will not just be political, economic and potentially military. They're anxiously watching for spikes in radiation. Qatar's energy ministry has announced it has enhanced its monitoring activities and is working with neighbouring states to plan for any necessary response. 'We have to emphasise, when we are talking about the waters of the Gulf, it's the main source of water for all of us here in the region,' foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told media this week. 'The international community has to make it very clear that any targeting of nuclear facilities, any targeting of fuel or energy facilities in this region, would have ramifications that are unknown to us in the Gulf.' Iran has only one functioning nuclear reactor, at Bushehr on the country's southwestern coast. There is also a small research reactor near Tehran. Iran's heavy water reactor complex in Arak, June 18. Picture: Maxar / Supplied And the next day. Picture: Maxar / Supplied But it does have several uranium processing plants and nuclear research facilities scattered around the country. Usually deep underground. Israel has struck several nuclear sites in the past week. Natanz Mount Kolang Gaz La Tunnel complex. Picture: Supplied It's hit Iran's largest uranium enrichment plant at Natanz in the central province of Isfahan. The smaller Fordow fuel enrichment plant near the city of Qom has been damaged. As has a heavy water nuclear plant in Arak. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that radioactive material has been released at at least one site. 'Within the Natanz facility there is both radiological and chemical contamination,' its director general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, stated earlier this week. 'Considering the type of nuclear material at this facility, it is possible that Uranium isotopes contained in Uranium Hexafluoride, Uranyl Fluoride and Hydrogen Fluoride are dispersed inside the facility.' But Uranium enrichment and heavy water plants are not nuclear reactors. And that's a critical factor in assessing the risk of any bombing campaign. Iran's bunkers. Picture: Maxar / Supplied Radiological release Explosions and drone strikes on and around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant have sent shivers through the spines of nuclear analysts around the world since President Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion. His troops now occupy the site. And while it has been idled to halt the flow of electricity, it still poses a serious environmental risk. Ukraine knows what that means. The forest surrounding the wreck of the Soviet-era Chornobyl power plant is expected to remain unsafe for human habitation for at least 22,000 years. And the clean-up of Japan's Fukushima isn't likely to be completed before the mid-2050s. So what about Iran's bombed nuclear facilities? Only reactors have the highly radioactive fuel rods needed to turn water into the superheated steam that drives generators to produce electricity. Picture: Open Source Centre Picture: Open Source Centre So far, Iran's reactors at Bushehr and Tehran have been spared from attack. Its uranium enrichment and heavy water manufacturing plants, however, have not. Uranium enrichment involves powerful centrifuges. These spin uranium yellowcake, as dug out of the ground, into powders and gas. And the spinning separates these materials into their component isotopes (atomic elements) according to their weight. Weapons-grade enrichment demands concentrations of the isotope U-235 of more than 90 per cent. Nuclear fuel only needs between 3 and 5 per cent. Iran is alleged to have amassed 400kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent U-235. And the effort needed to take that to 90 per cent represents only a fortnight inside the centrifuges. Even then, the material is not suitable for weapons. The gas and powders must be turned into a metal. Only then can it be machined into devices capable of triggering a nuclear detonation. So, the most significant risk of bombing processing sites such as Natanz is the release of uranium hexafluoride gas. The main aboveground facilities at Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility. This June 15 satellite photo reveals the extent of damage from Israel's weekend air raids. Picture: Maxar / Institute for Science and International Security This mountain at Natanz is believed to contain Iran's main uranium enrichment plant, capable of producing radioactive materials suitable for use in nuclear weapons. Picture: Institute for Science and International Security 'It's a big, heavy gas molecule,' says University of Alabama at Birmingham physicist Emily Caffrey. 'It's likely not going to travel super-far.' That means any escape from sites such as Fordow will likely only contaminate the immediate area. But the attack on the Arak reactor, some 250km southwest of Tehran, could potentially have produced more severe contamination. Heavy water is used for medical processes and nuclear research. And while not radioactive itself, the process of making it can produce deadly plutonium and deuterium. Both can be used in nuclear weapons. Picture: Airbus Defence and Space Picture: Airbus Defence and Space Long term threat 'We have nothing to be concerned about right now, but obviously prolonged escalation will have unpredictable consequences,' warns Qatar's al-Ansari. Assessment of satellite photos reveals most of the above-ground structures at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility have been destroyed. But the sites associated with the deep underground caverns holding the vital centrifuges appear untouched. That, according to analysts, does not mean they're undamaged. Sudden interruption to the power control could send the centrifuges spinning out of control. And shockwaves from nearby blasts could topple them from their mountings. The similar Fordow bunker facility does not yet appear to have been hit. But it is believed to be where most of the highly enriched, 60 per cent U-235 material is located. 'There's not a significant, dire health threat if those materials got released to the environment,' Union of Concerned Scientists spokesman Edwin Lymann told US public media. The kinds of uranium isotopes found within these facilities 'are at the low end of hazard with regard to radioactive materials,' he added. The IAEA agrees. To a point. Picture: Institute for Science and International Security Picture: Maxar 'The radiation, primarily consisting of alpha particles, poses a significant danger if Uranium is inhaled or ingested,' Director Grossi states. 'However, this risk can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures, such as using respiratory protection devices while inside the affected facilities. The main concern inside the facility is the chemical toxicity of the Uranium Hexafluoride and the Fluoride compounds generated at the contact with water.' Uranium hexafloride can combine with moisture in the air to create hydrofluoric acid. This is highly corrosive and is used in glass etching and electronics manufacturing. But it can enter the human body through the skin, eyes or inhalation. 'That is an acutely hazardous material that can harm or kill people,' Lyman explains. Once in the body, it interferes with the nervous system and burns soft tissues. But not all of Israel's targets are limited to Uranium Hexafluoride. Images of the heavy water facility at Arak show its central reactor structure has been hit. And analysts say four other nuclear sites, mostly associated with turning the enriched uranium into a metal, have been targeted. This potentially means long-lived, highly radioactive fragments are scattered among the debris. Jamie Seidel is a freelance writer Originally published as If Iran's bunkers are busted, what might escape?
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Qatar monitors radiation levels over Gulf, fears rise as Israel hits Iranian nuclear, energy sites
Qatar warns that strikes on nuclear or energy sites could have unknown consequences for Gulf nations reliant on shared waters/ Image composite (File), PANA Amid heightened conflict between Israel and Iran, Qatar has stepped up monitoring of radiation levels in the Gulf, following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and energy sites. On Tuesday, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed that Doha is closely tracking environmental developments in the region, while calling for international awareness of the potential fallout from strikes on sensitive facilities. 'We are monitoring this on a daily basis,' al-Ansari said during a news conference. 'We have nothing to be concerned about right now, but obviously prolonged escalation will have unpredictable consequences.' Gulf waters under watch: Qatar warns of potential regional impact Al-Ansari stressed the strategic and environmental importance of the Gulf's waters, describing them as the region's primary water source. He warned that any military action targeting nuclear or energy-related facilities could result in outcomes beyond current prediction. 'We have to emphasise, when we are talking about the waters of the Gulf, it's the main source of water for all of us here in the region,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ask a Pro: "What Expenses Can Be Deducted From Capital Gains Tax?" SmartAsset Undo 'The international community has to make it very clear that any targeting of nuclear facilities, any targeting of fuel or energy facilities in this region, would have ramifications that are unknown to us in the Gulf.' Nuclear and energy sites struck as conflict enters fifth day The current escalation began Friday when Israel launched a major air campaign against Iran's nuclear infrastructure. This marked the start of a now five-day-long exchange of missile strikes between the two countries. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities, which were among the Israeli targets, are located deep inland. However, Iran also operates a nuclear power plant at Bushehr, situated along the Gulf coast. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran informed the UN nuclear watchdog that the Bushehr plant had not been targeted. The statement was issued by the IAEA on Friday. On Saturday, Israel targeted a significant Iranian gas installation on the Gulf coast. The facility supports the South Pars gas field, a major energy project shared between Iran and Qatar. Qatar condemns strikes on energy infrastructure While confirming that Qatar's part of the shared gas field remains unaffected, the Qatari government expressed concern over the risks such attacks pose to regional stability. 'Qatar's own facilities in the field are secure,' said al-Ansari. Nonetheless, he strongly criticised the Israeli strikes on Iran's energy assets. He described the actions as 'reckless,' adding to Qatar's calls for de-escalation and urging international stakeholders to prevent further destabilisation in the Gulf.
Leaders
4 days ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Qatar Tracks Radiation Amid Israeli Strikes on Iran Nuclear Sites
Qatar is closely monitoring radiation levels in the Gulf as Israeli strikes target Iranian nuclear facilities. Foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari stated on Tuesday, 'We monitor this daily,' reassuring no immediate concern. However, he cautioned that prolonged escalation could potentially lead to unpredictable consequences in the region. The Gulf waters are indeed crucial as the main water source for regional countries, Ansari emphasized. Israel's Air Campaign and Regional Impact Meanwhile, Israel launched an unprecedented air campaign against Iran's nuclear infrastructure on Friday, triggering deadly exchanges. This action triggered deadly missile exchanges between the two nations, which are now in their fifth day. Ansari stressed the significance of the Gulf waters, which provide essential resources for the entire region. Consequently, the international community must urgently address the risks of targeting nuclear and energy facilities. Furthermore, the IAEA confirmed on Friday that Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant on the Gulf coast remains untargeted. Israel's strikes primarily focused on uranium enrichment facilities located hundreds of kilometers inland, away from populated areas. Additionally, Israel struck a major Iranian gas facility on the Gulf coast, impacting the South Pars gas field shared with Qatar. Ansari strongly condemned these strikes as reckless and dangerous, emphasizing their potential destabilizing effects. Qatar's Response and Regional Security In conclusion, Ansari confirmed that Qatar's facilities in the South Pars gas field remain secure despite the ongoing strikes. However, he strongly condemned Israel's actions against Iran's energy infrastructure as reckless and dangerous. The international community must urgently intervene to prevent further escalation and protect regional stability. Qatar continues to monitor radiation levels and regional developments very closely to ensure safety. Short link : Post Views: 134 Related Stories
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Qatar monitoring Gulf radiation after Israeli strikes on Iran nuclear sites
DOHA: Qatar has been monitoring radiation levels in the Gulf as Israeli air strikes pound Iranian nuclear facilities, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. "We are monitoring this on a daily basis," foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference. "We have nothing to be concerned about right now, but obviously prolonged escalation will have unpredictable consequences." Israel launched an unprecedented air campaign against Iran's nuclear infrastructure on Friday, triggering deadly missile exchanges between the arch foes, which are now in their fifth day. "We have to emphasise, when we are talking about the waters of the Gulf, it's the main source of water for all of us here in the region," Ansari said. "The international community has to make it very clear that any targeting of nuclear facilities, any targeting of fuel or energy facilities in this region, would have ramifications that are unknown to us in the Gulf." Iran has a nuclear power plant at Bushehr on the Gulf coast, though its uranium enrichment facilities, which have been targeted by Israel, lie hundreds of kilometres (miles) inland. The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Friday it had been informed by Iran that the Bushehr plant had not been targeted. On Saturday, Israel struck a major Iranian gas facility on the Gulf coast serving the South Pars gas field, which is shared with Qatar.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Qatar says monitoring radiation as Israel hits Iran nuclear sites
DOHA: Qatar has been monitoring radiation levels in the Gulf as Israeli air strikes pound Iranian nuclear facilities, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. 'We are monitoring this on a daily basis,' foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a news conference. 'We have nothing to be concerned about right now, but obviously prolonged escalation will have unpredictable consequences.' Israel launched an unprecedented air campaign against Iran's nuclear infrastructure on Friday, triggering deadly missile exchanges between the arch foes, which are now in their fifth day. 'We have to emphasise, when we are talking about the waters of the Gulf, it's the main source of water for all of us here in the region,' Ansari said. 'The international community has to make it very clear that any targeting of nuclear facilities, any targeting of fuel or energy facilities in this region, would have ramifications that are unknown to us in the Gulf.' Iran has a nuclear power plant at Bushehr on the Gulf coast, though its uranium enrichment facilities, which have been targeted by Israel, lie hundreds of kilometres (miles) inland. The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Friday it had been informed by Iran that the Bushehr plant had not been targeted. On Saturday, Israel struck a major Iranian gas facility on the Gulf coast serving the South Pars gas field, which is shared with Qatar. Ansari said Qatar's own facilities in the field were 'secure' but condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure as 'reckless'.
