The thunder of B-2 bombers over Isfahan and the flames engulfing Fordow’s gate on June 22, 2025, marked a decisive moment in contemporary nuclear diplomacy. The United States and Israel, invoking the doctrine of pre-emption, launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities- Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, employing precision-guided munitions and bunker busters. These strikes, while tactically effective, sent shockwaves from Tehran to Brussels, New Delhi and beyond.
Iran’s retaliation was swift. Retaliatory missile salvos in the Strait of Hormuz disrupted shipping lanes and coordinated cyber strikes targeted infrastructure across U.S. allied networks. Yet beyond these hostilities, the world must confront a deeper paradox: the atom, long championed for progress and peace, is again at the centre of geopolitical conflict.
The Atom’s Dual Role: Strategic Asset and Energy Backbone
While the strikes may have achieved operational objectives, they risk normalizing the use of force against civilian nuclear infrastructure. For decades, the global nuclear order, shaped by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and reinforced through agreements such as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), sought to delineate clear boundaries between military and civilian nuclear domains. India, as a responsible nuclear power committed to the doctrine of credible minimum deterrence, must watch these developments with caution.
Nuclear Stability and Strategic Risks
Ironically, the same uranium buried beneath Iran’s mountains or fuelling India’s reactors can generate gigawatts of clean, reliable power. Just 30 tonnes of uranium annually can fuel a 1 GW reactor, equivalent to powering a large metropolis, compared to 3 million tonnes of coal. This energy density provides nations strategic insulation from the volatility of global fuel markets. For energy-importing nations like India, which meets two-thirds of its oil demands through imports, this autonomy is critical. Beyond energy independence, nuclear plants contribute to grid resilience, consistently operating at over 90% capacity and forming the backbone of a stable, low-carbon electricity grid. The reliability is vital not only for civilian infrastructure but also for ensuring uninterrupted military and emergency operations. The U.S Military’s Project Pele, a mobile micro-reactor programme, demonstrates nuclear energy’s strategic utility in ensuring off-grid operational resilience at military installations.
Nuclear Power for Climate and Energy Resilience
Furthermore, in the global pursuit of climate security, nuclear power presents a scalable solution to displace tonnes of carbon dioxide, protecting nations from the cascading impacts of climate change and contributing to a more sustainable geopolitical future. Leading institutions like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) emphasize nuclear energy’s essential role in credible decarbonization pathways. For India, similar investments in small modular reactors (SMRs) could revolutionize energy security in remote border areas, island territories, and disaster-prone regions.
As the world reels under climate stress, from melting glaciers in the Himalayas to rising sea levels threatening India’s coast, nuclear power offers a low carbon path forward. In 2024, nuclear power helped the United States avoid 471 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, compared to removing 100 million cars from the roads. Nuclear’s land footprint is about 75 times smaller per unit of solar energy, making it a viable solution for densely populated nations. India’s energy transition, currently anchored in solar and wind expansion, cannot afford to overlook nuclear’s potential. The proposed expansion from the current 7.5 GW to 22 GW by 2031 is a step in the right direction, but policy must pivot to first track Indigenous technology development, streamline environmental clearances, and foster public-private partnerships.
Strategic Vision: Security Through Sustainable Energy
True national security is not measured in megatons or missile inventories, but in a nation’s capacity to ensure energy self-sufficiency, adapt to climatic disruptions, and maintain technological sovereignty. In this situation, nuclear energy, if deployed wisely, can emerge as the ultimate force multiplier, delivering desired outputs. Multilateral cooperation through the IAEA, renewed dialogue under the framework JCPOA, and regional confidence-building measures are vital. In the shadow of war, the promise of nuclear energy endures, waiting for leaders bold enough to trade the logic of annihilation for the vision of sustainability. As India charts its path forward, it must lead by example balancing its commitments to non-proliferation, energy equity and strategic stability in a world that needs more reactors humming and fewer missiles flying.