US-Israel Attack on Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant: How Iran Will Seek Revenge for This Russia-Iran Cooperation Project

Russia stated that the attack on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is a "blatant disregard for the core principles and norms of international security."

The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which was built with Russian participation, was attacked for the first time since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict. The munitions launched by the US and Israel exploded in the area adjacent to the operating nuclear reactor. This incident did not cause any casualties or damage to facilities, but it triggered a strong response from Rosatom, the Russian state atomic energy corporation, which called the act "a blatant disregard for international security." The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran vowed "blood for blood" and launched a new round of attacks on Israeli and U.S. military bases in the region. Below are details of the attack on the nuclear power plant, the status of Russian nationals at the site, and Iran's countermeasures as compiled by URA.RU.

Attack on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant – Timeline and Consequences

US-Israel Attack on Nuclear Power Plant, Munitions Exploded Within the Dangerous Range of the Reactor

On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, around 18:30 Moscow time (19:00 local time), the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southwestern Iran was shelled. The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization first announced the news.

According to Iranian sources, a missile fired by the US and Israel hit the industrial area of the nuclear power plant. Alexei Likhachev, general director of Rosatom, confirmed that the target was the area around the metering service building, which is very close to the operating nuclear reactor and poses a significant safety hazard.

Key Information about the Incident

  • Personnel and Damage Status: No staff were injured, and no material or technical damage was caused.
  • Radiation Conditions: According to Rosatom monitoring, radiation levels at the site and surrounding areas are within normal ranges.
  • Uniqueness of the Event: This is the first recorded instance of a missile hitting a nuclear power plant area since the escalation of the Middle East conflict on February 28.
  • Response from the International Atomic Energy Agency: Iran immediately reported the situation to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Director General of the Agency, Rafael Grossi, called on all parties to maintain "maximum restraint" to prevent the risk of a nuclear accident.

The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization stated that the attack on nuclear facilities seriously violates international law and constitutes a major threat to regional stability, warning that this action could bring "irreversible consequences" to countries along the Persian Gulf.

Position of Rosatom and Status of Russian Nationals

Rosatom: All Personnel at Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant Unharmed

Rosatom is the core partner in Iran's nuclear energy development, responsible for operating the first unit and participating in the construction of the second phase of the nuclear power plant. Likhachev issued a strong statement, calling the attack "a blatant disregard for the core principles and norms of international security," emphasizing that striking operational nuclear facilities is unacceptable and urging all parties to immediately de-escalate the situation in the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant area.

Status of Russian Nationals

  • At the time of the attack, there were approximately 480 Russian Rosatom employees at the plant, and no one was injured.
  • This is not the first evacuation: Previously, the Russians had preemptively evacuated the children of employees, and then evacuated about 250 adult experts and their families.
  • After the attack, the Russian side announced the initiation of the third batch of evacuations for Russian nationals.
  • Construction work on the second phase of the nuclear power plant (units 2 and 3) has been temporarily suspended, but due to the need to ensure the safe operation of the nuclear power plant, personnel cannot be fully evacuated.

Likhachev said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is personally overseeing the situation, striving to protect the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant from attacks and ensure the safety of personnel, while also emphasizing that Russia has no plans to withdraw from the project at this time.

Ali Larijani Assassinated — New Node in Escalating Conflict

About 24 hours before the attack on the nuclear power plant, Israel announced the elimination of an Iranian senior official. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Major General Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij forces, had died during the night.

Contradictions in Details of Larijani's Attack

  • According to Fars News Agency, Larijani was killed in an attack by US-Israeli aircraft at his daughter's house in Pardis district, and his son and several bodyguards were also killed.
  • The Iranian National Security Council denied this claim but confirmed the death of the high-ranking official, referring to it as his "passing away."

Swift and Strong Response from Tehran

  • Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed to launch a "severe retaliation" against the terrorists who carried out the assassination.
  • The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement declaring its intention to carry out a "blood for blood" retaliation.

"True Oath 4 Operation" – Iran's Counterattack

Iran launched a large-scale counterattack against US-Israeli bases, destroying over 100 targets

After issuing the retaliatory statement, Iran immediately fulfilled its threat, launching a new large-scale strike, named "True Oath 4 Operation." According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the targets included facilities deep inside Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.

It is reported that more than 100 targets were destroyed, including military and security department facilities in the center of Tel Aviv. Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba, and the Negev Desert were also attacked.

At the same time, Iranian forces launched attacks on U.S. military bases in the following countries:

  • Qatar
  • Bahrain
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Kuwait
  • Saudi Arabia

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant – A Russia-Iran Cooperation Project

The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is not only a landmark facility in Iran but also in the global nuclear energy sector. The plant is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf and is the first nuclear power plant in the Middle East.

Core Information About the Nuclear Power Plant

  • Construction History: Construction started in 1975 by a German company, and was halted after the Islamic Revolution. In 1995, Russia and Iran signed a contract to resume construction. In 2011, the first unit equipped with VVER-1000 reactors and a capacity of 1,000 megawatts was connected to the Iranian power grid.
  • Current Status: The first unit is operating at full capacity, with 72 tons of nuclear fuel in the reactor, and 210 tons of spent fuel stored in the spent fuel pool, making any shelling near the plant extremely dangerous.
  • Second Phase: Rosatom is responsible for constructing the second phase units 2 and 3, with a total capacity of 2,100 megawatts. As of January 2025, the project was nearly 20% complete, and construction has now been temporarily suspended.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7618580154360627738/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.