What if the Dimona reactor explodes? Will Jordan be out of the danger zone?

Arab Weather - Dr. Majd Al-Hawari, Director of the Jordan Nuclear Research and Training Reactor, confirmed that the possibility of radiation damage to Jordan in the event of an explosion at the Dimona nuclear reactor in the occupied Palestinian territories is extremely small and negligible.

In statements to Al-Mamlaka TV on Wednesday, Al-Hawari said that the direct radiation impact zone of the Dimona reactor in the event of an explosion could range from only 500 meters to 5 kilometers. He noted that Jordan is approximately 25 to 30 kilometers away from the reactor, which places it outside the immediate danger zone.

He added that there is a fundamental difference between a nuclear reactor and a nuclear bomb, explaining that the Dimona reactor is research-based and its uranium enrichment rate does not exceed 1.5%, which is extremely low compared to that used in military applications.

In the same context, Al-Hawari explained that two specialized teams were formed on October 7 to simulate scenarios of a potential radiation leak from the reactor. Two specialized programs were used to simulate the direction and spread of the radioactive cloud in the event of an accident at Dimona, in addition to studying the impact on Jordanian airspace and developing worst-case scenarios to prepare for them.

Al-Hawari concluded his remarks by stressing that the situation is "reassuring," and that there are no indications of an actual threat to Jordanian territory within the simulated scenarios that were prepared.