Araks River Not Polluted by Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant Waste, Iran Denies

The Iranian authorities have denied reports that the Araks River is being contaminated by waste from the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. This information was disseminated by the IRNA agency.

The Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority stated that to date, no radioactive contamination has been detected in northwestern Iran.

Monitoring for radioactive materials in the Araks River is conducted annually, and online monitoring measures will soon be established in the area.

Experts from the Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority believe that the distance between the Metsamor nuclear plant and the Araks River is significant, and there is no possibility that wastewater from the plant could enter the river and contaminate it with radioactive materials.

Earlier, media reports had indicated that due to radioactive contamination (most likely from Armenia), there has been an increase in cancer cases in northern Iran.