Russia demands answers, fumes at US' operation against Iran's nuclear facilities
Published on Jun 23, 2025 12:13 AM IST
The Kremlin has issued a fierce condemnation of the U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, calling the attacks a 'blatant violation' of international law and the United Nations Charter. Russia's Foreign Ministry demanded that the UN Security Council respond to what it described as 'confrontational actions' by the U.S. and Israel, warning that the strikes have sharply raised the risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East. Watch for more
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
16 minutes ago
- India.com
Iran-Israel War: ‘Chernobyl in the Making?' Explosions Rock Iran's Nuclear Plant After US Strikes
Iran-Israel War: Tensions in the Middle East soared further on June 22 as explosions echoed through Iran's southern port city of Bushehr, home to the country's only operational nuclear power plant. The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the strike, saying it also targeted missile launchers in Isfahan and Ahvaz. The timing of the attack – barely hours after the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites – has raised serious fears of a looming nuclear crisis. While Iranian officials have yet to confirm any damage to the nuclear plant itself, concerns are mounting. Built with Russian assistance, the facility operates using nuclear fuel supplied by Moscow. The same fuel is shipped back to Russia after use to mitigate proliferation risks. As of now, Iranian authorities report no radiation leaks. But the attack is being viewed in international circles as a dangerously provocative move. Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), had previously warned that a direct strike on the Bushehr plant could trigger catastrophic consequences. 'A hit on the facility could lead to a massive release of radioactivity, affecting not just Iran but its neighbours as well,' he had said while addressing the UN Security Council. Experts agree that if a direct strike compromises the reactor, the fallout could mirror nuclear disasters of the past. The comparison many are drawing is to Chernobyl. In that 1986 tragedy, a botched test led to an explosion and fire at a reactor in Ukraine, spreading radioactive contamination across Europe and causing long-term health damage to thousands. According to international nuclear safety protocols, any such incident at Bushehr would demand swift protective actions. These would likely include mass evacuations, iodine distribution, food and water restrictions and large-scale radiation monitoring across several hundred kilometres. Russia has issued its own warnings. With more than 600 personnel, including 250 permanent staff, stationed at the Bushehr facility, Moscow had reportedly sought assurances from Israel for their safety. Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev said any damage to the site could unleash a disaster on the scale of Chernobyl. The Israeli military had previously claimed its mention of Bushehr as a target was a mistake. But the latest strikes tell a different story. As images of smoke rising over Bushehr surface on social media and satellite data, the world is left to reckon with the possibility that a new chapter in warfare – one where nuclear power plants become battlefronts – may be closer than ever imagined. For now, the region holds its breath. Radiation levels remain normal. But questions remain – how close did the world come to a nuclear nightmare? And what happens if the next missile does not miss?
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
UN Security Council meeting: US demands Iran drop nuclear ambitions and ‘negotiate in good faith'
The United States vigorously defended its military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Sunday (June 22), framing the action as a long-overdue measure to protect global peace, regional allies, and American lives. Acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea delivered a forceful speech, stating that Washington had exhausted all other options before launching the strikes, which targeted key facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. 'The time finally came for the United States, in the defense of its ally and in the defense of our own citizens and interests, to act decisively,' Shea said. Shea accused Iran of fostering four decades of hostility toward the West, highlighting its long-standing threats against both the US and Israel. 'For 40 years, the Iranian government has called for death to America and death to Israel and posed a constant menace to the peace and security of its neighbors, the United States, and the entire world,' she said. The US envoy made a direct appeal to Iranian leadership to avoid retaliatory measures and instead return to diplomacy. 'Iran should not escalate,' Shea warned, as regional powers braced for a potential Iranian military response. Shifting the focus to Iran's broader regional activities, Shea urged the Security Council to confront what she called Tehran's long-standing agenda of destabilisation. 'To fulfill its core mission of maintaining international peace and security, this Council must call upon the Iranian regime to end its 47-year effort to eradicate the state of Israel,' she said. '[Iran must] terminate its drive for nuclear weapons, stop targeting American citizens and interests, and negotiate peace in good faith for the prosperity and security of the Iranian people and all other states in the region.' Iran has formally requested the United Nations Security Council to take up what it described as "a blatant and unlawful act of aggression" following the recent US military strikes on its nuclear sites. Tehran urged the 15-member body to issue a strong condemnation. A draft resolution — circulated by Russia, China, and Pakistan — calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and denounces attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities. While the resolution avoids directly naming the United States or Israel, its language has drawn sharp reactions. Diplomats said member states have until Monday evening to submit feedback on the draft, but it remains unclear when a vote might take place. For the resolution to pass, it would require at least nine affirmative votes and no vetoes from any of the five permanent members — the US, France, the UK, Russia, or China. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, defended the joint US-Israeli operation, stating that neither country deserves condemnation. 'The U.S. and Israel do not deserve any condemnation, but rather an expression of appreciation and gratitude for making the world a safer place,' Danon said in a statement. Speaking to reporters ahead of the Security Council session, Danon noted that it was too early to assess the full impact of the US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Trump's Nuclear ‘Truth' EXPOSED: Satellite Photos Reveal Iran's Bombed Nuclear Sites
'World War 3 Could Be Just Around The Corner,' Russian Fm Lavrov Says The Russian Foreign Ministry has responded sharply to the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. In a televised interaction, Sergei Lavrov warned of potential global consequences if nations bypass the UN Charter. His remarks echo President Putin's earlier caution about the risk of World War Three. The Kremlin has accused the West of double standards and economic self-sabotage. Watch. 1.6K views | 4 hours ago
