Russia Warns of ‘Nuclear Disaster’ Risk After Strikes Near Iran’s Bushehr Plant

Russia has expressed "deep indignation" following military strikes by the U.S. and Israel near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant. In a statement released Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the Tuesday attacks as "extremely irresponsible," warning they could have triggered a catastrophic nuclear event.

The ministry alleged that the strikes occurred in the immediate vicinity of Unit 1, an active reactor. Moscow claimed the "aggressors" are deliberately risking a regional disaster to mask their own military activities.

The Bushehr plant, a joint project between Iran and Russia, currently houses both Iranian workers and Russian specialists. "The lives of these professionals are at extreme risk," the Kremlin stated, noting that a major tragedy has only been avoided so far by "a single miracle."

Russia reminded the international community that the Bushehr facility is protected under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. Moscow maintains that strikes near such a site constitute a gross violation of international law. The Kremlin has formally called on the IAEA and the United Nations to clarify their positions and take immediate action to de-escalate.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Washington has failed to provide guarantees that the plant will not be targeted. "Fear is not abating; it is intensifying day by day," Peskov told reporters.

The conflict, which escalated sharply on February 28, has already resulted in the loss of top Iranian leadership. While Iran has retaliated against U.S. and Israeli targets in the Middle East, military analysts warn that the proximity of combat to nuclear infrastructure pushes the conflict toward a "point of no return." Experts emphasize that any radioactive leak at Bushehr would not be contained within Iran but would devastate the environment and public health across the entire Middle East.