‘Major nuclear catastrophe’ could possibly be on the horizon as Iran hit in unprecedented strike

A Russian official has warned that a “major nuclear disaster” could be possible after a projectile reportedly struck near one of Iran’s main nuclear facilities, as the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues to escalate.

Mikhail Ulyanov said a projectile reportedly hit near the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on Tuesday, raising serious concerns about the safety of the site. Ulyanov, who serves as Russia’s permanent representative to international organisations in Vienna, also criticised the response from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Writing on X, Ulyanov said: “I am not sure that the Agency’s response is commensurate with the gravity of the situation.”

The Bushehr facility, located in southwestern Iran on the Persian Gulf, was built with assistance from Russia. Rosatom continues to support the plant, with about 480 Russian nationals working at the site.

While there have been no reports of substantial damage, nuclear facilities are a major concern during wartime because of the risk that radioactive material could be released — in Bushehr’s case potentially into the Persian Gulf, reports Newsweek.

Iran’s nuclear sites have remained central to US policy, with Donald Trump ordering strikes on three facilities in June 2025 and initially describing Iran’s nuclear program as a key reason for Operation Epic Fury.

The United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran on February 28, killing Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Officials have reported more than 2,500 deaths in the war, including more than 1,300 in Iran, 900 in Lebanon, 12 in Israel and 13 US service members.

Russia’s state-run Tass news agency reported that Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said Tuesday night that “a strike hit the area adjacent to the metrology service building located at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site, in close proximity to the operating power unit”.

He added: “There were no casualties among Rosatom State Corporation personnel. The radiation situation at the site is normal.”

The IAEA said in a Tuesday night post on X that the agency has “been informed by Iran that a projectile hit the premises of the Bushehr NPP on Tuesday evening. No damage to the plant or injuries to staff reported.”

The post also noted that IAEA chief Rafael Grossi reiterated his call “for maximum restraint during the conflict to prevent risk of a nuclear accident”.

Speaking to journalists in Washington, Grossi said the damage “doesn’t seem to be very significant”. He added: “At the same time, any attack on any nuclear facility should always be avoided.”

Ulyanov, in his X post, argued that the IAEA’s response does not match the “gravity” of the situation. He added: “The possibility of another strike can not be ruled out. This poses a real risk of a major nuclear disaster, which can dramatically affect the whole region.”