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On Friday, Russia issued a carefully phrased warning amid rising tensions in the Middle East, pointing directly to its strategic presence at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran.
The facility, staffed by hundreds of Russian experts, has become a quiet frontline in Moscow’s efforts to deter military escalation near its assets.
Alexei Likhachev, head of Russia’s state nuclear energy agency, assured reporters that conditions at the plant remained stable despite regional uncertainty.
“The situation is fully under control, everything is normal,” he said. “Last night passed in the usual atmosphere of caution but was manageable. We are continuing our precautionary work, and we hope all our signals from yesterday reached Israel’s leadership.”
While the comments stopped short of an explicit threat, Russian officials are signaling that any military activity near Bushehr would be viewed as a direct risk to Russian personnel and interests.
The choice of words—“signals” and “control”—points to a deliberate attempt to project calm readiness while issuing a veiled warning.
Russia’s involvement in Iran’s civil nuclear program is long-standing, but under current circumstances, it also serves as geopolitical leverage. As conflict simmers between Iran and Israel, Moscow appears determined to shield its regional footprint—and to make clear that unintended consequences could follow if its presence is ignored.
Earlier this week, the Kremlin cautioned against any assassination attempts targeting Iranian leadership, saying such a move would “open Pandora’s box” and push the region into deeper chaos.
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