ATTACK ON IRAN’S NUCLEAR FACILITY COULD LEAD TO ANOTHER CHERNOBYL

RUSSIA WARNS OF POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES FROM ISRAELI ATTACK ON BUSHEHR NUCLEAR PLANT

The head of Russia’s nuclear energy corporation issued a grave warning on Thursday, stating that an Israeli strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant could result in a “Chernobyl-style catastrophe.”

While an Israeli military spokesperson initially claimed that Israel had targeted the facility, a subsequent statement from an Israeli military official called the assertion “a mistake,” refraining from confirming or denying any attack on the Bushehr site located along the Gulf coast.

Bushehr is Iran’s sole operational nuclear power plant and was constructed by Russia. President Vladimir Putin addressed journalists early Thursday, asserting that Israel had guaranteed the safety of Russian workers involved in the construction of additional nuclear facilities at the Bushehr site, despite Israel’s ongoing efforts to undermine Iran’s nuclear capabilities through military means.

Alexei Likhachev, head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, highlighted the precarious situation surrounding the plant, warning that “if there is a strike on the operational first power unit, it will be a catastrophe comparable to Chernobyl,” as reported by the state RIA news agency. Likhachev referenced the devastating nuclear disaster that occurred in 1986 at Chernobyl in Soviet Ukraine, adding that an assault on Bushehr would be “beyond… evil.”

Although some Russian specialists have been evacuated from Bushehr, Likhachev noted that the core workforce, which Putin indicated numbers in the hundreds, remains at the site. “We are prepared for any scenario, including the rapid evacuation of all our employees,” Likhachev stated.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, condemned Israeli attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities as unacceptable and illegal. “We are especially concerned about the safety of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, in whose operation Russian specialists are involved,” she expressed to reporters. Zakharova issued a warning to Washington against military intervention, describing it as an extremely dangerous step with unpredictable negative consequences—a caution that Moscow first raised on Wednesday.

In his remarks, Putin defended Russia’s position when questioned about potential military support for Tehran, clarifying that Iran had not requested such assistance. He emphasized the strong ties between the two nations and the continued presence of Russian workers at Bushehr as evidence of Russia’s support. Russia condemned the Israeli actions during a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressing hope for a diplomatic resolution that addresses both Israel’s security concerns and those of Iran.

Mikhail Bogdanov, another Russian deputy foreign minister, expressed alarm when asked about the prospect of U.S. involvement in Israel’s conflict with Iran, stating, “God forbid, the consequences would be hard to predict.”