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By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
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Russia warned Israel against its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, saying it puts the world on the "brink of a catastrophe." The country also expressed concern about the Bushehr nuclear power plant, where Russian nationals are working.
Israel has struck nuclear facilities across Iran, including at Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak. It accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb and threatening Israel's existence.
Tehran says its nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes.
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Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said attacking nuclear sites keeps us "on the brink of a catastrophe whose implications will be felt everywhere, even in Israel."
She said Russia "calls on the Israeli leadership to come to its senses and immediately stop attacks on nuclear installations."
"We are particularly concerned about the safety of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which employs Russian specialists," Zakharova said.
An Israeli military spokesperson said on Thursday morning that the Bushehr nuclear site, which was built with Russia, had been struck.
However, a later statement clarified that this was a "mistake," and that it was actually the Natanz, Isfahan, and Khondab nuclear sites that were targeted, Reuters reported. An Iranian diplomat also told the publication that Bushehr had not been struck.
Iran is an ally of Russia, though Israel also has friendly relations with Moscow.
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Chernobyl-Like Catastrophe
Russia has been raising concerns about the potential for a strike on Bushehr.
Alexei Likhachev, CEO of the Russian state atomic energy company Rosatom, said that a strike on Bushehr could lead to a catastrophe similar to Chernobyl, according to state media reports.
Likhachev said that some Russian nuclear specialists working at Bushehr have already been removed, though others remain.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Israel has promised Russia that it would ensure the safety of its specialists working at Bushehr.
"We maintain very smooth, trusting relations with Israel," Peskov told RBC-TV.
"Only yesterday, Putin mentioned that there is an understanding with Israel that our specialists who work in Bushehr will not be in danger and under the threat of a strike."
Peskov said the safety of the Russian specialists comes from the relationship of trust with Israel.
"Our dialogue with Israel and the trusting nature of this dialogue allow us to reach such understandings. This is very important," he said.
Israel Hits Arak Nuclear Reactor
The Israel Defense Forces said it had struck an inactive nuclear reactor in Arak on Thursday, "including the structure of the reactor's core seal, which is a key component in plutonium production."
"Construction of the reactor began in 1997 but was not completed due to international community intervention," the IDF said.
"The reactor was originally intended for the production of weapons-grade plutonium, capable of enabling the development of nuclear weapons."
The strike came "in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development," the IDF said.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) confirmed the attack on a nuclear facility in Arak. It stated that a research reactor and the Shohadaye Khandab Heavy Water Complex had been targeted.
In a statement reported by Iranian state media, the AEOI said there were no casualties and "no danger or harm to the residents of the area."
Update 6/19/25, 10:34 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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