The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has declared a recent drone attack on the Barakah nuclear plant in the UAE a serious compromise of nuclear safety. The United Arab Emirates has blamed pro-Iran militants for the incident. The attack targeted an electricity facility, raising concerns about potential shutdowns.

The UAE’s nuclear plant was “carefully targeted” last month by attackers who aimed to cause a major incident, the head of the International Atomic Energy

After the May 2026 attack near Barakah, IAEA’s Rafael Grossi says UAE nuclear safety systems, emergency drills and governance passed a critical real-world test.