Headlines
Russia Calls for 'safety Island' Around Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Plant
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 19, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 19, 2026
Quick Summary
Russia, via Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev, has called for a designated “safety island” around Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant after a projectile struck within 350 metres of its reactor, warning that any hit could trigger a regional nuclear disaster.
Russia Calls for Safety Zone at Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Plant After Strike
Russian Concerns and International Response to Bushehr Nuclear Plant Strike
Incident Overview
MOSCOW, March 19 (Reuters) - A senior Russian official called on Thursday for the creation of a safety zone around Iran's Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant to prevent a major disaster, two days after a projectile struck within several hundred metres of its reactor.
Details of the Strike
Alexei Likhachev, head of state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said there were 72 tons of fissile material and 210 tons of spent nuclear fuel at the site, and that any strike on it could lead to a catastrophe.
"If an incident were to occur, it would be at least regional in scale and would affect a large number of countries in the Middle East. None of the parties to the conflict would avoid radiation exposure in the event of a serious accident at Bushehr," Likhachev told reporters.
Statements from Iran and International Agencies
Iran, which has been under heavy U.S. and Israeli airstrikes since February 28, said on Tuesday that an unspecified projectile had hit the area near the Bushehr plant.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said a structure about 350 metres from the reactor was hit and destroyed, but there was no damage to the reactor itself and no injuries to staff. Rosatom said radiation levels around the plant remained normal.
Rosatom's Role and Safety Measures
Rosatom built the first 1-gigawatt unit of Iran's only nuclear power plant at Bushehr and is constructing additional units there.
It has evacuated some of its hundreds of staff from there in recent weeks. Likhachev said a further major evacuation was planned, which would leave only a few dozen employees at the site.
Calls for Political Action
"I believe political leaders and lawmakers must now play their role and do everything possible to ensure there is no recurrence of such risks — not even a hint of possible direct strikes on the site of an operating power unit," he said.
"We appeal to the leadership of all parties to the conflict to make this area an island of safety and to rule out any risk."
Awareness of Plant Coordinates
Likhachev added that the U.S. and Israel had precise information on the geographical coordinates of the Bushehr plant and the new units under construction there.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Anastasia Lyrchikova; editing by Mark Trevelyan and Gareth Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •Rosatom reports that 72 tons of fissile material and 210 tons of spent fuel are stored at Bushehr, amplifying risk of catastrophe from any strike
- •IAEA confirmed a structure ~350 metres from the reactor was destroyed but reactor and staff unharmed; radiation levels remain normal
- •Rosatom has suspended construction of new reactor units and is evacuating non‑essential personnel, planning further evacuations
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia calls for 'safety island' around Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant
1Why did Russia call for a safety zone around the Bushehr nuclear plant?
Russia called for a safety zone after a projectile struck near the Bushehr plant to prevent a possible nuclear disaster.
2What are the risks if the Bushehr nuclear plant is hit?
A strike on the plant could cause a regional catastrophe affecting many Middle Eastern countries with radiation exposure.
3Was the Bushehr reactor damaged by the recent strike?
No, the reactor itself was not damaged; a structure about 350 meters from the reactor was destroyed, but there were no injuries or radiation leaks.
4How has Rosatom responded to increased risks at Bushehr?
Rosatom has evacuated some staff and is planning a major further evacuation, leaving only essential personnel on site.
5Who does Russia want to ensure the safety of the Bushehr nuclear plant?
Russia urges all parties to the conflict, including political leaders and lawmakers, to support making the plant area a safety island.
