Russia Warns Against Using Tactical Nuclear Weapons to Strike Iran’s Fordo Facility

20th June 2025

4 minutes read

Russia Warns Against Using Tactical Nuclear Weapons to Strike Iran’s Fordo Facility

Russia has issued a stern warning to the United States and Israel against any intention to use tactical nuclear weapons or strike Iranian nuclear reactors, stating that such an action could lead to an environmental catastrophe akin to the Chernobyl disaster, with repercussions across the region, including the Gulf and Central Asia.

In a statement carried by Russian media, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that any potential use of tactical nuclear weapons by the United States in Iran “would be a catastrophic development,” stressing that even if this scenario stems from media speculation, it must be taken extremely seriously.

His remarks came in response to what he described as “media reports,” which suggested that Washington was considering using a tactical nuclear weapon to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facility in Fordo, which lies deep within a mountain and is believed to be impervious to conventional weaponry. The Guardian reported that Pentagon officials had discussed intelligence assessments suggesting such a strike would require a preliminary conventional assault, followed by a direct tactical nuclear strike by a B-2 stealth bomber.

However, the paper clarified that President Donald Trump has not formally proposed this option, and it has not been discussed in recent Situation Room meetings at the White House attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine. On Thursday, Trump stated that “a decision on potential U.S. involvement in the Israeli-Iranian conflict will be made within two weeks.”

Russia’s warnings go beyond politics, highlighting environmental and radiological threats. Moscow emphasized that any attack on nuclear reactors, whether conventional or nuclear, would expose the entire region to radioactive contamination, reviving memories of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Alexey Likhachev, head of Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, confirmed that Russian specialists are still operating at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, saying the situation there is “normal and under control.” He added, “We hope Russia’s message has been received by Israel, and that no reckless steps are taken that could lead to disastrous consequences.”

Likhachev had earlier warned that any strike on the Bushehr facility could lead to a Chernobyl-like nuclear disaster, noting that the fallout could affect not just Iran, but the Gulf waters, neighboring countries like Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, and even extend to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Any attack on nuclear facilities, especially amid sharp regional tensions, is unacceptable… Everyone must remember that such actions could repeat the Chernobyl tragedy, with devastating impacts on the environment and populations.”

Medvedev also criticized recent Israeli remarks, calling the confrontational rhetoric by the Israeli defense minister about the “fate of Iran’s Supreme Leader” a dangerous overreach that could lead to military action against nuclear sites.

These statements come amid escalating regional tensions, particularly in light of ongoing uncertainty surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and increasing indirect clashes between Israel and Iran through airstrikes and proxy warfare in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon.

Iran’s Fordo facility, located beneath a mountain near Qom, is considered one of the most fortified nuclear sites in the country. The Pentagon previously deemed it “undestroyable” with conventional weapons, leading some to float the option of tactical nuclear use, despite its catastrophic implications.

Amid this escalation, regional and global concerns are rising about any military action targeting nuclear sites in Iran. Any radioactive leak could paralyze health and environmental infrastructure in multiple countries and disrupt maritime traffic in the Gulf, a critical artery for global energy supply.

While official U.S. sources currently rule out the nuclear option, Russia’s warnings serve as a stark alarm—especially as they come not only from the Kremlin but also from scientific and technical bodies in the nuclear field.