
Situation at Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant is 'normal', Russian official says
20 June 2025 12:10
ST PETERSBURG (REUTERS)The head of Russia's nuclear energy corporation, Alexei Likhachev, said on Friday that Russian specialists were still working at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran and that the situation there was normal and under control.
Likhachev said he hoped Russia's warnings to Israel not to attack the site had been received by the Israeli leadership.

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Arabian Post
29 minutes ago
- Arabian Post
the-arabian-post
Niger's military-led government announced on 19 June 2025 that it is nationalising the Somair uranium joint venture, formerly dominated by French nuclear fuel company Orano. The announcement, aired on national television, declared that the State will now hold full ownership and management of the mine, citing inappropriate and inequitable conduct by Orano. Authorities assert that the 63 per cent stake held by Orano—alongside the remaining 37 per cent via state firm Sopamin—has been improperly leveraged. The accord underpinning Somair's operations expired in December 2023, and the government accuses the French entity of exceeding its share entitlement and engaging in misconduct, though specific details remain undisclosed. Operational control of the mine was already transferred to Nigerien authorities following the 2023 coup, and Orano was stripped of its permit for the Imouraren site, which contains an estimated 200,000 tonnes of uranium reserves. The company responded by launching arbitration and legal proceedings and by filing a domestic lawsuit after its director disappeared and its offices were raided in May. Orano, 90 per cent owned by the French government and operating in Niger for more than five decades, has been exploring options to divest its stakes—potentially to Russian or Chinese entities—as Franco–Nigerien relations deteriorate. The firm reported substantial financial losses and warned that governmental interference has undermined the mine's viability. Niger produces about 5 per cent of the world's uranium, supplying approximately 20–26 per cent of France's demand—critical for a nation generating around 70 per cent of its electricity from nuclear power. With Somair's output at risk and Imouraren's permit revoked, Nigerien uranium exports may fall sharply in 2025, potentially triggering supply shortages across Europe. The move reflects Niger's broader shift towards resource sovereignty, embedding itself among Sahel countries like Mali and Burkina Faso that are revising mining contracts and exerting stronger state control over critical commodities. These regimes are renegotiating higher revenue shares and demanding local stakeholder benefits. However, their tactics—raids, executive detentions, unilateral expropriations—have prompted concern and legal challenges from affected companies. Analysts warn that Niger's action may energise global uranium market volatility, as utilities, notably in Europe, scramble to secure alternative sources. Kazakhstan and Canada stand out as potential beneficiaries, though ramping up supply will take time and investment. Orano has indicated plans to diversify, including pursuing projects in Mongolia and Namibia to offset Niger's production decline. Nonetheless, its dispute with Niger will proceed through international arbitration via ICSID, and possibly domestic courts, with the outcome likely to span months or years.


Middle East Eye
40 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
Israel's attack on Iran: What you need to know about Tehran
Millions of residents have left Tehran as Israel continues to attack Iran. Main roads have been clogged with traffic as people try to flee the metropolis. At petrol stations, residents have waited in line for hours to fill their vehicles. Shops, banks and businesses have shut. The authorities have blacked out the internet. Apartment blocks have been left largely empty. And throughout, there is the continued threat of further Israeli bombardments. To date, these have killed at least 639 people and injured 1,329 others, according to the US-based group Human Rights Activists in Iran. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Iranian authorities have not updated figures since earlier this week, when they put fatalities at 224 people. Where in Iran is Tehran? Tehran is located in northern Iran, which has a population of 90 million people and an area larger than that of the UK, France, Germany, and Spain combined. Although there is evidence of settlement in the area for more than 6,000 years, Tehran did not officially became Iran's capital until 1906 following the Constitutional Revolution. To the north and east are the peaks of the Alborz mountains, which overlook the Caspian Sea. Mount Damavand, Iran's highest point at 5,600m, can be seen from the capital. To the south it is mostly arid plains and desert, including the salt basin Namak Lake and, much further to the east, Dasht-e Kavir, known as the Great Salt Desert. The very north of Tehran is at an elevation of 1,700m, while the southern tip is only 1,100m above sea level, meaning temperatures can vary by several degrees Celsius. Iran is prone to earthquakes, although Tehran has not suffered major causalties compared to the rest of the country in recent years. Around 30km to the west of Tehran is Karaj, the fourth largest city in Iran, which is linked to the capital by the Tehran–Karaj Highway. This week the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Israel had attacked nuclear centrifuge production facilities on the outskirts of Karaj. The city of Qom, home to one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, is 120km south of Tehran. During the current war, the road between the two cities has been attacked by Israel. Many residents of Tehran, including non-Iranians, have fled the capital for the cities of Amol, Babol and Sari, 200km across the mountains and close to the Caspian Sea. How big is Tehran? The capital of Iran may be visited by foreigners less frequently than other major cities in the Middle East and North Africa, it is still a major metropolis. Only Cairo and Istanbul are comparable in size, with metropolitan populations of 23 million people and 16 million respectively. Tehran has a population estimated at 9.5 million people. This increases to 16.8 million when the wider metropolitan area is included. It has an area of more than 700 km2, and has a size and population density similar to New York City. The city dominates life in Iran, and is the economic, political, administrative, commercial, financial and cultural centre of the country. But this key role has made it a target for Israeli attacks since 13 June this year. Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation and the Tehran Research Reactor are located just north of Amirabad district and within residential areas. Central neighbourhoods hit include Kamranieh, as well as Lavizan in the north-east, and nearby Tehran-Pars and Narmak. Who lives in Tehran? Tehran, like the rest of Iran, is a young city, with an average age of 32. The country has the largest number of Shia Muslims globally - making up 90 percent of the population - with most subscribing to the Twelver branch. The city is home to considerable numbers of Kurds and Azerbaijanis. Many people left the city, especially to the West, during the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the advent of the Islamic Republic. Others fled during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988, when the city was last targeted by air raids. Recent attacks have evoked painful memories for many of Tehran's older residents. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 brought refugees from the east, a number that was later boosted by the US-led military action from 2001 onwards. But many Afghans in Iran have faced discrimination and are frequently deported. What's the layout of Tehran? Tehran has faced many economic and political challenges over the last half century, including the Islamic Revolution, Saddam Hussein's war on Iran, and, more recently, the imposition of sanctions by the US and others. This has meant that Tehran's infrastructure has failed to keep pace with its growth, resulting in gridlocked roads and poor services. The city consists of 22 districts. 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Kesharvarz Boulevard, pictured (left in November 2024 and after an Israeli attack on 15 June 2025), crosses Valiasar Boulevard (AFP) Land is also more expensive on the city's north-south and east-west routes, such as historic Valiasar Boulevard, and Enqelab Street, which is named after the revolution of 1979 and associated with protests against Iran's mandatory hijab. Modern expressways, including the Hemmat Highway, run east-west to the suburbs. What's Tehran like for transport? Bad. While news reports in recent days have emphasised the lines of traffic leaving the city, Tehran has always been notorious for its congestion and pollution, which is exacerbated by the high number of older vehicles on the roads. Pollution chokes Tehran in December 2023, forcing some workplaces and schools to shut. The problem is worse during the colder autumn and winter months (AFP) The result is frequent smog. Much of this is down to geography and the Alborz mountains that prevent winds blowing in from the Caspian and trap hot air coming from the south. Only limited relief has come with the subway network, one of the biggest rail networks in the region. It first began running trains in 1999 and now has seven lines carrying more than three million people every day. Its tunnels are now being used by many Tehranis to shelter from the missile strikes, along with basements or older shelters used in the war with Iraq during the 1980s.


Middle East Eye
40 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
Fear and shock as Israelis question motives behind attack on Iran
When a missile landed close to his home in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on Thursday, Omri was miles away, sheltering at his partner's family house in northern Israel. "Our building is old and has no shelter so we drove to her parents' house, where there's a safe room, but it's frightening every time we leave the house," Omri told Middle East Eye. The city of Ramat Gan and other areas near Tel Aviv have been the site of multiple Iranian retaliatory attacks since Israel started its military campaign on Iran a week ago. On Thursday, Iran launched a barrage of 30 ballistic missiles at Israel, causing extensive damage in the country's centre and south, where a missile struck the Soroka hospital in Beersheba. In Ramat Gan, damage was reported at the Israeli stock exchange building and several nearby offices and residential buildings. More than 200 people were wounded that day, according to local media. "I'm in a condition that a lot of people can envy. I have a safe room, but I wouldn't want to be in this situation for much longer," Omri said New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "I don't think we can stand the current situation much longer." Another resident of Ramat Gan, whose home was struck by a missile, described the scene as similar to "an apocalypse." "I hadn't slept at all for several days, so I didn't wake up when the siren went off," the resident said, speaking to Israeli newspaper Haaretz. "Just before I reached the safe room, the missile struck, and I was hit in the shoulder by the force of the blast." Preserving Netanyahu's rule For many in Israel, the conflict with Iran feels unlike anything they've experienced before. Some are even questioning the motives behind the government's decision to strike Iran. Since last Friday, Israel has hit a long list of targets in Iran, including nuclear facilities, senior military commanders and scientists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the offensive was aimed at "rolling back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival." As Trump weighs bombing Iran's Fordow, 'mission creep' lurks behind US attack Read More » Speaking of Netanyahu, Elisha, a resident of Tel Aviv, told MEE: "I think we have a supreme leader who's only interested in staying in power. The entire purpose of the attack is to preserve his rule." "The ministers will keep sitting safely in their bunkers while we're just pawns in their game. We're like sitting ducks," he added. Elisha described the daily Iranian missile strikes as "something different" from what Israelis are used to facing. "I'm not afraid for my own life, but for the people close to me," he told MEE. "A few days ago, a missile hit near my parents' house. The whole area was covered in shattered glass, their window was blown out. It's scary." "Life here is a nightmare," he continued. "I guess I'll move abroad. This isn't a place to raise children." When asked whether he feared the continuation of the war, Elisha replied: "I'm afraid of my government. I'm mostly afraid of what they'll do next." 'Very much in shock' In southern Israel, shock and fear gripped Soroka Hospital in Beersheba following the strike, which wounded 60 people. "There's no functioning ward now," a nurse told Israeli media outlet Ynet, referring to the extent of the damage. "When we arrived, there was chaos - people running, shouting. We went straight to the emergency room to see where help was needed. Now the entire hospital is being evacuated to protected areas. The building isn't safe," the nurse said. "We're all very much in shock." 'We have a supreme leader [Netanyahu] who's only interested in staying in power. The entire purpose of the attack is to preserve his rule' - Elisha, Tel Aviv In Holon, part of the Tel Aviv district, a resident said a powerful explosion shook their entire apartment building. "We went outside and saw that an entire four-storey house had been destroyed," the resident told Ynet. At the scene, a 13-year-old girl recalled the moment when the missile struck their home: "We jumped out of bed when the siren went off and ran to the shelter. "When we came out, we saw the house was destroyed. My room was hit the hardest. I just burst into tears." Echoing Elisha's concerns, Omri also shed doubts on the Israeli government's motives and the timing of the offensive on Iran. "There's something big going on here, but at the same time - why now?" he told MEE. "The government, the opposition, and the Knesset are steering us toward an uncertain future - and all this while captives remain in Gaza and soldiers continue to be killed."