Nuclear Incident and Principles of Civil Liability

Development and change in science and technology and continuous advent of modern industries, is the most important factor of change and development in tort law. Atomic energy industry, in this respect, has had a main effect. Special nature of the nuclear activities and unique characteristic of nuclear damage is in manner that the general principles of civil liability can not answer its particular problems. Thus it needs a special regime governing these questions. Such regime has been accepted in many countries having nuclear industry and also in various conventions in international level. The special regime of nuclear civil liability has, vis-à-vis most of general principles of tort law, a particular rule. Such principles as strict liability, channeling of liability to operator, limitation of liability, compulsory financial security (insurance), state intervention in compensation and unity of competent court, are amongst nuclear civil liability principles. This regime is, also in elements and effects of liability, of special rules. There is no particular law in respect of nuclear civil liability in our country. Therefore, the special regime has not come to our legal system. Neither general rules of civil liability can meet modern necessities and exigencies with respect to nuclear questions. Therefore, Iranian legal system, in respect of questions relating to nuclear liability, is deficient.