Iranian Media: Strikes Target Bushehr Nuclear Plant and Petrochemical Factories

- The Iranian official news agency "Tasnim" reported that a shell targeted the vicinity of the Bushehr nuclear power plant on Saturday morning, resulting in one death. "Tasnim" added that the shell caused damage to a building adjacent to the plant, leading to the death of a security personnel.

While the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), affiliated with the United Nations, confirmed that there has been no announcement of any increase in radiation levels, it warned against targeting nuclear facilities and called for "the utmost restraint to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident." This marks the fourth time the site has been targeted since the war began.

Iranian authorities had previously announced that shells had targeted the area surrounding the Bushehr nuclear power plant several times this month. The Bushehr plant is the only operational nuclear power plant in Iran.

At the same time, Iranian state media reported that facilities belonging to several petrochemical companies in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran, were damaged due to airstrikes on Saturday morning. The "Tasnim" agency reported that fighter jets targeted the "Bou Ali Petrochemical Complex," in addition to the "Bandar Imam" petrochemical complex, where parts of the facilities were damaged.

The Mahshahr petrochemical area was also targeted by a series of strikes, according to the "Tasnim" agency. These companies are considered part of the Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC), a massive petrochemical holding group in Iran, which the United States classifies as an engineering conglomerate affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on these affiliated companies in 2019. Wali Allah Hayati, a law enforcement official in Khuzestan Province, stated that there is a "high probability of injuries" following the attacks carried out by the United States and Israel, according to "Tasnim."

The announcement of these attacks comes after one of the largest steel factories in Iran was bombed in the city of Isfahan on Wednesday, according to state media, leading to further damage to vital infrastructure. The petrochemical industry is essential in Iran, as it supports many other sectors in the industrial economy, including plastics, fertilizers, and other everyday consumer products.