Friday, June 20, 2025

Russia warns strike on Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant could cause 'Chernobyl-style catastrophe'

By Vladimir Soldatkin, Andrew Osborn and Dmitry Antonov

June 19, 20254:56 AM PDTUpdated June 19, 2025

A satellite image shows new reactors under construction at the Bushehr site in Iran

Summary

Bushehr is Iran's only working nuclear plant
Russia built it and is constructing more reactors
Hundreds of Russian workers are in Bushehr
Moscow urges Israel not to strike plant

ST PETERSBURG, June 19 (Reuters) - The head of Russia's nuclear energy corporation warned on Thursday that an Israeli attack on Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant could lead to a "Chernobyl-style catastrophe".

An Israeli military spokesperson said Israel had struck the site, but an Israeli military official later called this statement "a mistake" and said he could neither confirm nor deny that the Bushehr site on the cost of the Gulf had been hit.

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Bushehr is Iran's only operating nuclear power plant and was built by Russia.

President Vladimir Putin told journalists in the early hours of Thursday that Israel had promised Russia that Moscow's workers - who are building more nuclear facilities at the Bushehr site - would be safe, even as Israel tries to degrade Iran's nuclear capabilities by force.

The head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom warned on Thursday that the situation around the plant was fraught with risk.

"If there is a strike on the operational first power unit, it will be a catastrophe comparable to Chernobyl," the state RIA news agency cited Alexei Likhachev as saying.

Likhachev was referring to the world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986, when a reactor exploded at Chernobyl in Soviet Ukraine.

An attack on Bushehr would be "beyond... evil," Likhachev added.

Russia has evacuated some of its specialists from Bushehr, he said, but the core workforce - which Putin said numbered hundreds of people - remained on site.

"We are prepared for any scenario, including the rapid evacuation of all our employees," RIA cited Likhachev as saying.

'GOD FORBID'

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Israeli attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities were unacceptable and illegal.

"We are especially concerned about the safety of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, in whose operation Russian specialists are involved," she told reporters.

"We would like to especially warn Washington against military intervention in the situation, which would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences," Zakharova added, underlining a warning that Moscow first issued on Wednesday.

Putin, in his comments early on Thursday, was defensive when asked what more Moscow would do to help Tehran. He said it had not asked for military assistance, that ties were strong, and that the continued presence of Russian workers building more nuclear facilities at Bushehr showed Russia's support for Iran.

But Putin also stressed the importance of Russia's ties with Israel - even though he later condemned its behaviour in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping - and said he believed a diplomatic solution that would satisfy Israel's concerns about its own security and Iran could be found.

Russia signed a strategic partnership with Iran in January and also has a relationship with Israel, although that has been strained by Moscow's war in Ukraine. A Russian offer to mediate in the Israel-Iran conflict has so far not been taken up.

Mikhail Bogdanov, another Russian deputy foreign minister, recoiled on Thursday when asked by Reuters about the possibility of the U.S. joining Israel's war with Iran.

"God forbid, the consequences would be hard to predict,” he said.

Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin in St Petersburg, Dmitry Antonov in Moscow and Andrew Osborn in London; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Mark Trevelyan

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Andrew Osborn

Thomson Reuters

As Russia Chief Political Correspondent, and former Moscow bureau chief, Andrew helps lead coverage of the world's largest country, whose political, economic and social transformation under President Vladimir Putin he has reported on for much of the last two decades, along with its growing confrontation with the West and wars in Georgia and Ukraine. Andrew was part of a Wall Street Journal reporting team short-listed for a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting. He has also reported from Moscow for two British newspapers, The Telegraph and The Independent.

The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran is basically another Chernobyl waiting to happen

And if the Bushehr nuclear power plant melted down it's design is almost exactly like the Chernobyl design which is a flawed and dangerous Russian Design like Chernobyl was. Thousands of people died because of Chernobyl over time already and the same likely would be true if Israel bombed Bushehr nuclear power plant built by Russia too.

IAEA concerned about radioactive release if Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear plants continue

I personally think it's way to late to be worrying about all this because it's already too late to keep people dying from radiation poisoning. This already was happening the first time Israel bombed a nuclear facility in Iran. Any idiot knows this.

For example, I have long thought that the U.S. would be uninhabitable from the east coast to the Mississippi River if Putin or Xi bombed all the nuclear power plants east of the Mississippi river. So, in order to survive something like this long term you would be forced to either leave the country entirely or move west of the Mississippi river where there are few if any nuclear power plants left that are working at all.

The point is Israel has already bombed surface peaceful and warlike Nuclear sites in Iran and exposed them to the air (and the Iranian people nearby to radiation deaths already.) And dying from Radiated Dust is a slow and extremely painful process but most people are dead within 6 months to a year. This is why I think Iranian missiles being destroyed by the Iron Dome are actually dirty bombs because the Iranians know this too.

So, from my point of view the mutually assured destruction of both countries has already begun with people on both sides dying of radiation poisoning in the next few weeks, months or years.

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IAEA concerned about radioactive release if Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear plants continue

Mirna Alsharif

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi shared concerns today that although attacks by Israel on Iran's nuclear facilities have not yet led to a radiological release that can affect the public, there is a possibility it can happen.

Grossi specifically shared concerns about the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, located in southwestern Iran.

"This is the nuclear site in Iran where the consequences of an attack could be most serious," Grossi said. "It is an operating nuclear power plant and as such it hosts thousands of kilograms of nuclear material. Countries of the region have reached out directly to me over the past few hours to express their concerns, and I want to make it absolutely and completely clear: In case of an attack on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment."

Putin says he is concerned the world is heading to WWIII

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https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/live-blog/israel-iran-live-updates-trump-two-week-deadline-us-action-uk-eu-talk-rcna214040#rcrd82866

Putin says he is concerned the world is heading to WWIII

Reuters

During an economic forum in St. Petersburg today, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked if he was concerned about the world heading towards World War III.

Putin expressed concern, mentioning the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the growing conflict between Israel and Iran, which involved nuclear facilities in Iran where the Russians are building new nuclear reactors.

“It is disturbing," Putin said. "I am speaking without any irony, without any jokes. Of course, there is a lot of conflict potential, it is growing, and it is right under our noses, and it affects us directly. And this requires, of course, not only our careful attention to the events taking place, but also the search for solutions, the search for solutions, preferably by peaceful means, in all directions."

Is Putin really concerned about World War III or does he just think Trump is an idiot? I think the latter might be true

Especially with his KGB Training messing with Trump's mind might be useful to Putin in this way.

For example, (at least right now) it doesn't feel like World War III at all (Unless China attacks Taiwan) or something like that. I think China attacking Taiwan or Putin completely genociding Ukraine is much more likely to create World war III than what is happening between Israel and Iran.

Mostly regarding Israel and Iran I see both nations blown up and gone away within 10 to 20 years. Not sure what they will be replaced by though. Israel and Iran are locked in a death struggle and neither is going to survive long term for 1000 or more reasons. I'm not even sure fully that Jerusalem won't be blown up and gone too within the next 10 to 20 years. Not sure why this is true.

Maybe it's sort of like: "Jerusalem is my football (Islam or other interested religions speaking) and if I cannot have my football then I pop my football so none of you can play football!"

This is the kind of thinking that would end Jerusalem with a nuke or dirty bomb. And this kind of thinking might originate from any Shia Muslim Country now because of what Israel has done to Iran and the Persian Culture which is irrevocable now for all time.

In otherwords the damage is so deep to the Shia Muslims worldwide that almost anything could or would happen now that is unimaginable presently.

However, as a precognitive Intuitive I have always found that bringing up these kinds of issues often creates a better future for everyone after people see the truth in what I'm saying.

So, in this way writing about what I see coming can prevent at least some of it from coming.

However, I"m sorry but I think that Iran and Israel will cease to exist (at least as they presently are) within the next 10 to 20 years.

What caused this? Putin's plan and bribes to Hamas and Iran to do October 7th that's what caused all this mayhem now and into the future.

It's why he is so relatively quiet about all this now.

He planned this outcome to overthrow Ukraine. How Very KGB of him.

Also, the price of oil will help Russia potentially defeat Ukraine through genocide too because most of the Russian economy right now depends upon the price of oil.

So, this might help Russia's economy from Collapsing by rising oil prices from Iranian oil now burning.

Also, I think Russia has now lost 750,000 men and women to the Ukraine war (both dead and wounded) which is one hell of a toll on everyday Russians for nothing.

Remember we only lost 50,000 men and women during the Viet Nam War and this is 15 times the casualties for Russia in a much shorter period of time than the Viet Nam War.

Putin says he is concerned the world is heading to WWIII

begin quotes:

Putin says he is concerned the world is heading to WWIII

Just now5m ago

During an economic forum in St. Petersburg today, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked if he was concerned about the world heading towards World War III.

Top Iranian official meets with European leaders after Trump sets new deadline for strikes

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Top Iranian official meets with European leaders after Trump sets new deadline for strikes

To Save Face Iran might feel the need to nuke some city in Israel now

I keep getting this pretty strong at this point.

For example, Iran doesn't have the technology to micro-miniaturize something to fit into a warhead of a missile.

However, they might have the technology to create something like the U.S. hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki with.

But, they wouldn't be able to be sure it could be delivered to Israel by Air in a missile.

So, what would they do?

They might move this bomb encased in Lead to hide the nuclear signature by either truck or by boat. If it was by Truck then they would need to drive it through a tunnel that the Israeli Government doesn't know about towards a city like Tel Aviv or a military base.

If they did this to take revenge on Israel at this point then likely Israel would simply put one of their nukes in a plane and bomb Tehran into Ashes.

There is really no one winning this war there would only be two nations without Capitals and that's all.

But, also there could be dirty bombs contained in these missiles that are being blown up over Israel already. This might be already happening. This seems pretty logical already too. So, in this way the Iron Dome that blows up these missiles would also be scattering radioactive material (maybe secretly) all over where these missiles are blown up by the Iron dome of Israel supplied by the U.S.

It might be important to check on Israeli Citizens to see if people start to die or get sick from radiated dust put into Iranian missiles. Because their object might not be really for those missiles to land but instead be missile Dirty bombs raining down radioactive dust onto unsuspecting Israeli citizens.

Is this true?

I can't say one way or another but I can feel the Iranian government either contemplating this or actually doing this to Israel now in all or some of the missiles they send to be blown up by the Iron dome.

But, once again any nuclear war between Israel and Iran ends both nations.

Because it is all going to be mutual assured destruction anyway.

This is not a war that Israel or Iran can ever win.

Only the both of them can lose.

For the same reason that Russia and China and the U.S. and Europe have never used their nuclear weapons either.

Only Crazy people use nuclear weapons as in Doomsday weapons like nukes and chemical and nerve agents.

Crazy people just like all Shia or Sunni Terrorists or Governments like Iran or even Israel.

For this reason I think it is very likely that both Iran and Israel likely will cease to exist during the next 10 to 20 years at this point.

But, what happens to the rest of the middle East and Europe while these two nations create mutually assured destruction?

Note: I was thinking that Tel Aviv was the Capital of Israel but it's actually Jerusalem. end quote.

The most stable Plutonium has a half life of 81 million years

Quote from Google AI:

Isotopes of plutonium - Wikipedia

Twenty-two plutonium radioisotopes have been characterized. The most stable are 244Pu with a half-life of 81.3 million years; 242P...

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1/2 life of Weapons Grade Plutonium is 24,100 Years. Therefore once you bomb this stuff it will keep killing for at least 24,100 years throughout the middle east:

I think my question would be here: "Would this also eventually drift across the Mediterranean ocean and kill people eventually in Europe too? The answer likely would be: "Within 24,100 years this stuff could literally in the form of radioactive Dust could encircle the planet killing sporadically people everywhere over time. It only takes a few radioactive particles in your lungs to kill a person (like it did John Wayne) from making a movie too close to an old A-Bomb testing site in the U.S. Many other people in this movie also died from radiation poisoning from breathing in a few radiated particles eventually too caused by the A Bomb explosion and it's aftermath. However, the bomb went off possibly 10 to 20 years before and killed that much later.

begin quote from Google AI:

The primary isotope in weapons-grade plutonium is plutonium-239, which has a half-life of approximately 24,100 years. This means it takes about 24,100 years for half of the plutonium-239 atoms to decay into other elements. While plutonium-239 is the most common, weapons-grade plutonium also contains other isotopes like plutonium-240, which has a half-life of about 6,560 years.

Isotopes of plutonium - Wikipedia
Twenty-two plutonium radioisotopes have been characterized. The most stable are 244Pu with a half-life of 81.3 million years; 242P...
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Institute for Energy and Environmental Research

Can the Energy Department store 50 tons of weapons-grade ...

Mar 8, 2021 — The isotope used in American nuclear weapons, plutonium 239, has a specific activity (that is, an amount of radiation p...

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Physical, Nuclear, and Chemical Properties of Plutonium

This means that the chain reaction must be controlled–that is, the number of neutrons produced needs to equal the number of neutro...

Show all

If you look at these maps west is left and right is east. So, the prevailing winds will take the radiated dust particles west towards Israel and other countries in the area

If you study some of these maps you can see that west is to your left and East is to your right. So, it appears the prevailing wind that will carry all the radiation let loose by Irael Bombing Iran will move mostly from right to left. However, the radiation likely will kill thousands and then thousands more if and when we bomb Fordo within a few weeks. However, people will continue to die from these bombings in Iran for possibly 25,000 years to 50,000 years because the half life of the radiated material in the sands blowing across Iran into Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and northern Saudi Arabia. So, it's likely that people are even now beginning to die from radiation poisoning across Iran in areas where nuclear material has been stored that have been hit already. However, you likely aren't going to hear about this simply because this likely wouldn't be allowed by most western News Sources.

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