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<p>The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is the atomic watchdog of the United Nations (UN), on Friday (September 9) warned of a potential threat to nuclear safety due to a spike in fighting near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the war-torn Ukraine. In a statement, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said, "I remain deeply concerned about the possible dangers facing the plant at this time of heightened military tension in the region."</p>

<p>“Whatever happens in a conflict zone, wherever it may be, everybody would stand to lose from a nuclear accident, and I urge that all necessary precautions must be taken to avoid it happening,” Grossi said. He added the IAEA team was informed that staff at the nuclear power plant had been reduced temporarily to minimum levels due to concerns about more military activity in the area.</p>

<h2>'Numerous explosions reported near Zaporizhzhia for past 1 week'</h2>

<p>The IAEA said that its experts deployed at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported hearing numerous explosions over the past week. There has been no damage to the plant. "Starting last Saturday, the IAEA team heard around two dozen explosions over three days, followed by several more in the last few days. There was no damage to the plant itself," the statement further said.</p>

<p>Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February last year, the UN atomic watchdog has expressed concerns that the fighting could cause a potential radiation leak from the facility, which is one of the world’s 10 biggest nuclear power stations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The plant's six reactors have been shut for months but it still requires power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features.</p>

<p>The Zaporizhzhia plant has been occupied by Russian forces since March last year. Last month, Ukraine's atomic energy operator said that it was vital to gain control of the plant to supply electricity to Ukraine.<br />
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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is the atomic watchdog of the United Nations (UN), on Friday (September 9) warned of a potential threat to nuclear safety due to a spike in fighting near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the war-torn Ukraine.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is the atomic watchdog of the United Nations (UN), on Friday (September 9) warned of a potential threat to nuclear safety due to a spike in fighting near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the war-torn Ukraine. In a statement, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said, "I remain deeply concerned about the possible dangers facing the plant at this time of heightened military tension in the region." “Whatever happens in a conflict zone, wherever it may be, everybody would stand to lose from a nuclear accident, and I urge that all necessary precautions must be taken to avoid it happening,” Grossi said. He added the IAEA team was informed that staff at the nuclear power plant had been reduced temporarily to minimum levels due to concerns about more military activity in the area. 'Numerous explosions reported near Zaporizhzhia for past 1 week' The IAEA said that its experts deployed at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reported hearing numerous explosions over the past week. There has been no damage to the plant. "Starting last Saturday, the IAEA team heard around two dozen explosions over three days, followed by several more in the last few days. There was no damage to the plant itself," the statement further said. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February last year, the UN atomic watchdog has expressed concerns that the fighting could cause a potential radiation leak from the facility, which is one of the world’s 10 biggest nuclear power stations. The plant's six reactors have been shut for months but it still requires power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features. The Zaporizhzhia plant has been occupied by Russian forces since March last year. Last month, Ukraine's atomic energy operator said that it was vital to gain control of the plant to supply electricity to Ukraine. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Amid fighting near Zaporizhzhia plant, UN atomic watchdog warns of threat to nuclear safety

<p>The United States has called an emergency meeting of the UN atomic watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors to discuss Iran, the US mission to the agency said on Friday, after Tehran breached its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.</p>

<p>Any country on the board can call a meeting, and the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in a note to member states that the meeting would be held next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. (1230 GMT) after the IAEA this week said Iran had exceeded the maximum stock of <a href="http://cms.wionews.com/world/iran-threatens-british-shipping-in-retaliation-for-tanker-seizure-233404">enriched uranium</a> allowed under the deal.</p>

<p>"Today ... U.S. Ambassador to International Organizations in Vienna Jackie Wolcott requested a special meeting of the Board to discuss the IAEA Director General's latest, concerning report on the Iranian regime's nuclear program," the US&nbsp;mission said in a statement, referring to the IAEA's report on Monday. "The international community must hold Iran's regime accountable."</p>

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<p>What exactly the meeting would achieve, however, was unclear, diplomats said.</p>

<p>Parties to the deal have a separate forum they meet in called the Joint Commission, and the deal lays out possible action that can be taken there. Washington pulled out of both the deal and the Joint Commission last year.</p>

<p>The IAEA is in charge of verifying the restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities imposed by the deal, which also lifted <a href="http://cms.wionews.com/world/iran-demands-britain-release-oil-tanker-held-in-gibraltar-233214">international sanctions </a>against Tehran.</p>

<p>The IAEA has repeatedly said it is up to the parties to the deal to decide whether there has been a breach of its terms.</p>

<p>Iran has said it will go over the deal's nuclear restrictions one by one in retaliation against crippling economic sanctions Washington has imposed on it since the US&nbsp;withdrawal. It has said that as of July 7 it will enrich uranium beyond the 3.67% purity cap imposed by the deal.</p>

<p>Other signatories to the 2015 deal, apart from Iran and the United States, are Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. Those five countries are trying to keep the deal alive.</p>


The United States has called an emergency meeting of the UN atomic watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors to discuss Iran, the US mission to the agency said on Friday, after Tehran breached its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.

The United States has called an emergency meeting of the UN atomic watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors to discuss Iran, the US mission to the agency said on Friday, after Tehran breached its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers. Any country on the board can call a meeting, and the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in a note to member states that the meeting would be held next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. (1230 GMT) after the IAEA this week said Iran had exceeded the maximum stock of enriched uranium allowed under the deal. "Today ... U.S. Ambassador to International Organizations in Vienna Jackie Wolcott requested a special meeting of the Board to discuss the IAEA Director General's latest, concerning report on the Iranian regime's nuclear program," the US mission said in a statement, referring to the IAEA's report on Monday. "The international community must hold Iran's regime accountable." × What exactly the meeting would achieve, however, was unclear, diplomats said. Parties to the deal have a separate forum they meet in called the Joint Commission, and the deal lays out possible action that can be taken there. Washington pulled out of both the deal and the Joint Commission last year. The IAEA is in charge of verifying the restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities imposed by the deal, which also lifted international sanctions against Tehran. The IAEA has repeatedly said it is up to the parties to the deal to decide whether there has been a breach of its terms. Iran has said it will go over the deal's nuclear restrictions one by one in retaliation against crippling economic sanctions Washington has imposed on it since the US withdrawal. It has said that as of July 7 it will enrich uranium beyond the 3.67% purity cap imposed by the deal. Other signatories to the 2015 deal, apart from Iran and the United States, are Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. Those five countries are trying to keep the deal alive.

United Nations nuclear watchdog's board to meet on Iran at request of US

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Amid fighting near Zaporizhzhia plant, UN atomic watchdog warns of threat to nuclear safety

United Nations nuclear watchdog's board to meet on Iran at request of US