Iraq on Alert: Fears of Nuclear Fallout from Israeli Strikes on Iran

Iraq has activated its national radiation alert systems and formed an emergency response cell as Israeli airstrikes continue to target Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

While no rise in radiation levels has been recorded so far, officials in Baghdad remain cautious, particularly due to the proximity of the Bushehr nuclear reactor, located just 400 kilometers from Iraq’s southern border.

The targeted sites to date, such as Natanz and Fordow, are uranium enrichment facilities, and experts say they are unlikely to cause cross-border contamination. Still, the risk of escalation and the possibility of a strike on a full-scale reactor have prompted Iraqi authorities to coordinate closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and neighboring countries.

Since the first day of the strikes, Iraq has sought detailed updates from Iran and called for transparency in reporting any nuclear incidents. Tehran has confirmed limited contamination at Natanz but maintains it is contained within the facility.

The bigger concern for Iraq and the broader region is the lack of clarity over Iran’s internal assessments and its ability to report future leaks.