Vienna, September 14 (QNA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday of rising attacks on nuclear facilities and accelerating proliferation risks, amid a global nuclear energy expansion that demands rigorous oversight.

In a statement delivered by Monica Juma, Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna, at the 70th IAEA General Conference, Guterres highlighted growing global turmoil, deteriorating safeguards, and threats to nuclear sites.

He urged full compliance with the IAEA to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program and reinforced support for the agency’s efforts to avert disaster at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, stressing that the world critically relies on the IAEA's neutrality and expertise to secure global peace and development. (QNA)