Attack on Barakah stresses need for stronger protection of civilian nuclear infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi: Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has reaffirmed the agency’s unequivocal opposition to any attack on peaceful nuclear facilities, stressing that such installations are protected under international humanitarian law.
Grossi described the attack that targeted the vicinity of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant on May 17, 2026, as a direct threat to nuclear safety and security.
He made the remarks during a press conference on Tuesday evening at the The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, following a visit to the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant as part of a regional tour.
UAE–IAEA cooperation
The IAEA chief praised the close cooperation shown by UAE authorities, noting that the agency received accurate, timely and consistent technical updates on the aftermath of the attack.
According to Grossi, this allowed the IAEA to track developments in real time and maintain full situational awareness throughout the incident.
“Any attack on a nuclear power plant is simply unacceptable. From what we have seen, this was a carefully planned operation. Whoever carried out this attack knew exactly what they were doing. This is extremely serious,” said Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Grossi also stressed that continuous communication with the agency’s Incident and Emergency Centre is essential for managing such situations effectively and maintaining the highest levels of transparency and international confidence.
‘Any attack on a nuclear power plant is unacceptable’
At the same time, Grossi strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a grave threat to nuclear safety and security.
“Any attack on a nuclear power plant is simply unacceptable,” he said, stressing that such actions contravene established international norms and legal frameworks designed to protect peaceful nuclear facilities.
While commending the professionalism and effectiveness of the response to the incident, Grossi warned that the event underscores the risks associated with attacks on critical infrastructure that supports nuclear operations.
“From what we have seen, this was a carefully planned operation,” he said, adding that those responsible were fully aware of the strategic importance of the infrastructure they targeted.
In one of his strongest remarks during the press conference, Grossi said the incident appeared to be a deliberate and carefully planned operation.
“Whoever carried out this attack knew exactly what they were doing. This is extremely serious,” said Rafael Mariano Grossi.
He described the attack as a deeply concerning development, underscoring the potential risks such actions pose to nuclear safety, critical infrastructure and regional stability.
Strengthening cooperation and learning from the incident
Grossi confirmed that the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation will continue to work closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency to assess lessons learned from the incident, support ongoing evaluations and strengthen recovery and preparedness efforts.
He said the event highlighted the importance of intensive training, regular emergency preparedness drills and continuous readiness programmes that are routinely carried out at nuclear facilities to ensure they can respond effectively to unexpected situations.
According to Grossi, the incident demonstrated the value of maintaining robust safety and emergency response frameworks, reinforcing the need for ongoing vigilance and international cooperation in the nuclear sector.
“It was evident how valuable intensive training, drills and preparedness activities are,” Grossi said.
“These are essential components of any advanced industrial infrastructure, particularly nuclear power plants.”
UAE officials also noted that lessons learned from the international ConvEx-3 emergency exercise, hosted by the UAE in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2021, played a significant role in strengthening the country’s preparedness and resilience during the recent incident.
No radiological emergency
Grossi’s remarks came after his visit to the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant on Tuesday, where he said he wanted to assess the situation firsthand and demonstrate the IAEA’s support for the UAE.
The IAEA chief reiterated that there was no radiological emergency associated with the incident and praised the swift actions taken by UAE authorities to maintain the plant’s safe and secure operation.
“The primary reason for my visit is the incident that occurred on May 17 at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant,” Grossi told reporters.
He noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency has worked closely with the UAE since the launch of the country’s peaceful nuclear energy programme and has remained in continuous contact with national authorities and plant operators following the attack.
Barakah passed a ‘trial by fire’
Grossi said he met with senior UAE officials and toured the facility to assess how the incident was handled. Based on his review, he concluded that the plant’s safety systems, emergency protocols and operational procedures performed exactly as designed.
“This was a trial by fire for them, and they passed it with flying colours,” said Rafael Mariano Grossi.
He added that the incident served as a real-world test of the plant’s preparedness and resilience, demonstrating the effectiveness of the UAE’s nuclear safety framework and the professionalism of the teams responsible for operating and regulating the facility.
The IAEA chief added that he held detailed discussions with the operational team on duty during the attack and found that all emergency procedures and safety protocols had been executed accurately and professionally.
“I had the opportunity to discuss what happened with the shift team that was present at the time,” Grossi said. “All protocols were applied perfectly, and within a very short period the situation was fully under control.”
Attack targeted external electrical infrastructure
According to Grossi, the attack was aimed at external electrical infrastructure that supplies power to systems supporting plant operations, rather than the nuclear reactors themselves.
“This was an indirect attack on the plant,” he explained. “It was not directed at the reactor, but at the electrical infrastructure that provides the power needed for safety functions and other essential operational activities.”
He noted that despite the disruption, the plant’s backup systems and safety mechanisms responded as designed, ensuring that critical operations remained secure and under control. The incident, he said, demonstrated the robustness of Barakah’s safety architecture and the effectiveness of the emergency response measures in place.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, Grossi stressed that it never escalated into a nuclear safety emergency.
“There was never any radiological emergency whatsoever,” he said.
Multiple layers of protection
Information presented during the visit confirmed that the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant continues to operate safely and normally, with all safety and security systems remaining fully operational.
UAE officials said the incident served as a real-world demonstration of the effectiveness of the country’s nuclear safety and security framework, as well as the high level of preparedness and professionalism of the personnel responsible for operating the facility.
They noted that multiple layers of protection and redundancy functioned as intended, enabling the plant to maintain safe operations and respond swiftly to the disruption without compromising nuclear safety or security.
Grossi explained that the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is equipped with multiple layers of safety systems that are designed to activate automatically in the event of disruptions, ensuring the highest levels of protection even if external power supplies are affected.
“When professional competence and proper procedures are in place, a nuclear power plant becomes an extremely safe facility,” he said.
“There are multiple layers of protection that immediately come into operation whenever needed.”
He noted that these built-in safeguards performed as intended during the incident, helping to maintain the plant’s safe and secure operation.
While serious, the incident has become a significant real-world test of the UAE’s nuclear preparedness and resilience framework, demonstrating the effectiveness of its safety systems, emergency protocols and operational readiness under challenging conditions.
According to Grossi, the response demonstrated not only the strength and resilience of Barakah’s safety architecture, but also the maturity of the UAE’s nuclear governance framework, its emergency preparedness capabilities and its commitment to maintaining transparency with the international community.
He said the incident highlighted the effectiveness of the country’s regulatory oversight, operational readiness and coordination among key institutions, reinforcing confidence in the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy programme.
The IAEA chief added that the swift exchange of information and close cooperation between UAE authorities and the International Atomic Energy Agency reflected international best practices in nuclear safety, security and crisis management.
