Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was applied to study the structural response of iron phosphate glasses to atomic displacements arising from ion beam irradiation, as an analogue of α-recoil damage arising from actinide immobilization. Analysis of XAS spectra demonstrated reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ as a consequence of 2 MeV Kr+ and 2 MeV Au+ implantation to a fluence of 2 x 1016 ions / cm2 and 5 x 1015 ions / cm2, respectively.