[DonaldC]

“Once the fuel rods are loaded, Bolton told Fox News on Friday afternoon, “it makes it essentially immune from attack by Israel. Because once the rods are in the reactor an attack on the reactor risks spreading radiation in the air, and perhaps into the water of the Persian Gulf.”

I’m not sure this is that much of a consideration.

[battlecry]

I agree. You can learn a lot from the Russians (Chernobyl).

[Mariner]

Either the US, Israel or some Joint Allied Force will attack before the rods are loaded, or will never attack thereafter.

Nuke pollution is bad press...

[Sender]

I don't think that the presence of the fuel rods would necessarily cause widespread contamination from bombing the reactor. A solid hit would basically break up the nuclear core and hopefully it would not remain critical. There would be some radioactive steam from the cooling system.

Locally, the site would be a mess. Just pour concrete over it; it's done. There's no point in sending in a repair/cleanup crew...the ones in Chernobyl died, and they still had to pour concrete over it.