One strike. One reactor. Decades of fallout?
UN Health Agency Prepares for Potential Strike on Nuclear Sites as Conflict Escalates.
The World Health Organization is preparing contingency plans for what it calls a potential “worst-case” nuclear scenario in Iran, as fighting between the United States, Israel and Tehran intensifies.
Hanan Balkhy, the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean regional director, told Politico that the agency is preparing for a nuclear incident “in its broader sense.” That could include a direct strike on one of Iran’s nuclear facilities or, in an extreme scenario, the use of atomic weapons by one of the parties to the conflict.
“No amount of preparation” could fully shield the region from consequences that might last for decades, she warned.
Since the U.S.-Israeli campaign began on February 28, multiple Iranian nuclear sites have been targeted. So far, international monitors report no radioactive contamination. The International Atomic Energy Agency has said that while certain structures near key facilities have been damaged, reactors themselves remain intact and radiation levels are normal.
Concerns escalated earlier this week when Iranian authorities reported that a munition struck near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the country’s only operational reactor. Rosatom, which built and helps operate the facility, confirmed that no radiation leaks occurred but described the strike as a serious security breach.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, calling it a reckless escalation and urging Washington and Tel Aviv to avoid further strikes on nuclear infrastructure.
Israel, widely believed to possess undeclared nuclear weapons, has not publicly signaled any intention to escalate to that level. President Donald Trump dismissed suggestions that Israel might consider such an option, saying this week that “Israel wouldn’t do that.”
Still, health officials are planning for contingencies that extend beyond conventional warfare. The WHO’s role would include coordinating medical response, radiation monitoring, and cross-border health systems support in the event of contamination.
The warning underscores how the conflict has moved into more dangerous terrain. As strikes edge closer to sensitive nuclear facilities, the margin for error narrows — and the potential consequences grow far beyond the battlefield.
