DUBAI, June 28 (AP): The United Nations' nuclear watchdog has confirmed that radiation levels across the Gulf region remain within normal limits following the recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.

In a statement released Thursday, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), acknowledged that the airstrikes exchanged between the two nations caused significant damage to several of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Key Iranian nuclear sites, including Bushehr and Fordow, were among those targeted during coordinated Israeli and U.S. military operations. The conflict came to an unexpected end with a ceasefire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump early Tuesday.

Grossi emphasized that any major radioactive release would have been detected by the IAEA’s global radiation monitoring system. “A 48-nation network monitors radiation levels and would have registered any significant emissions from compromised nuclear reactors,” he noted, referring to the International Radiation Monitoring Information System (IRMIS), which regularly receives regional data.

“Our primary concern from a nuclear safety standpoint was the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and the Tehran Research Reactor,” Grossi explained. “A direct strike on these facilities or their external power supply could have triggered a radiological accident with potentially serious consequences for Iran and neighboring countries—particularly in the case of Bushehr.”

Fortunately, he added, no such incident occurred. “The worst-case nuclear safety scenario was avoided.”

Grossi reiterated the IAEA’s long-standing position that nuclear facilities must never be targeted during armed conflict and stressed the importance of allowing inspectors continued access to verify Iran’s nuclear activities.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Friday that a bill suspending cooperation with the IAEA has now become legally binding, following its approval by Iranian lawmakers and the country’s top vetting authority.