Is this nuclear power’s big moment?

The Middle East energy crisis may turn out to be pivotal to the industry’s long-term expansion, but significant challenges still stand in its way

Nuclear power’s history is littered with course-altering moments, usually in the form of tragic accidents that have prompted governments to reconsider their backing for what some argue is still the world’s most controversial energy source. The Middle East crisis of 2026—a conflict ironically rooted in Iran’s broader nuclear ambitions—might turn out to be another big, yet more constructive, moment for the industry. Spiking gas prices in Europe and elsewhere, along with the prolonged curtailment of LNG production in the Middle East, have undoubtedly strengthened the case for nuclear generation in the minds of policymakers and many potential investors. Its lure as a simultaneous solution to dec