As the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States intensifies across the Middle East, the head of the world's nuclear watchdog has warned that attacks on nuclear facilities are "unthinkable."

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, spoke to CGTN in an interview in which he addressed the threat posed to nuclear sites by the ongoing conflict, the IAEA's contingency preparations, and his urgent call for diplomacy to resume.

Safety pillars

Grossi pointed to the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran as an immediate cause for concern. While stressing the facility had not been affected, he said it had been placed on alert due to nearby military activity. 

"We cannot hide from this reality," he said, drawing a parallel with the agency's experience at the outset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, when the IAEA set out a series of safety pillars centered on the principle that nuclear plants must never be attacked and their physical integrity must never be compromised.

With fears growing that the conflict could escalate further, Grossi confirmed the IAEA is already in active consultation with countries in the region, particularly Gulf states, about worst-case scenarios. 

Seeking 'long-lasting solution'

"We have been imparting some guidance, training and information capacity and analytical tools," he said, adding that in the event of a radioactive release caused by an attack, "we would be prepared.

"We hope this will never be the case though, and I'm in active contact with all the players in the region… attacking a nuclear power plant is unthinkable," he added. 

On the question of whether the IAEA could broker a temporary agreement between the warring parties to spare nuclear facilities from attack, Grossi acknowledged the agency had been involved in negotiations between the US and Iran for some time, including talks in Geneva where no agreement was ultimately reached. 

He said a resumption of diplomatic dialogue is now essential. 

"A problem like this, which has been there for more than 20 years, with an Iran that has been growing in every area of its nuclear program, can only be solved through a diplomatic process," he said. "I urge my counterparts in all these countries that we need to be able to come again around the table... to find a long-lasting solution."