Russia: Israeli strikes could spark nuclear crisis in Gulf region

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, has voiced deep concern over the potential fallout — both literal and geopolitical — of Israel’s military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, cautioning that “radiation knows no borders.”

Speaking to TASS on June 19, Bogdanov drew stark parallels to past nuclear catastrophes and questioned the safety of international personnel stationed at Iranian sites.

“Of course, we don't need these attacks,” he stated. “We had Chernobyl, we had Fukushima. And if there are leaks — I’m not even talking about our specialists at Bushehr or the IAEA representatives at these facilities — who will ensure their personal safety?”

Bogdanov warned that any breach in nuclear containment could have wide-reaching implications.

“If there is a leak, radiation knows no borders. Where will these clouds go?” he asked. “What will happen to the population, not only in Iran, but also in neighbouring countries?”

He noted the particularly sensitive location of the Bushehr nuclear plant, which sits on the coast of the Persian Gulf. “We also have friends on the other side, in the Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain,” Bogdanov said, implying that the safety of regional allies could also be at risk.

By Tamilla Hasanova