ISTANBUL

Russia on Saturday condemned US-Israeli missile attacks on a nuclear power plant in Bushehr, southern Iran and expressed condolences over the death of one of its employees.

In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow is making every effort to tell the international community and the public how the situation around the plant is close to a “dangerous threshold.”

The ministry cited IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, who expressed deep concern over the attack and stressed that such critical infrastructure must never be targeted by military strikes.

“It is clear that his remarks are addressed to those carrying out the attacks, who continue, without hesitation and even with a certain reckless zeal, to strike Iran’s nuclear energy infrastructure, which falls under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and Iran’s comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA,” said the statement.

Moscow underlined that the “unlawful and reckless actions” are an “indelible stain” on the international reputation on those who targeted the Bushehr plant and other Iranian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards.

“In effect, they have completely undermined their previous standing in the field of nuclear nonproliferation, as well as nuclear and physical security, demonstrating that they no longer recognize any norms or constraints,” Zakharova said.

The ministry added that Moscow expects that the damage caused by US-Israeli strikes to the Non-Proliferation Treaty regime will be subject to an objective and thorough assessment at the treaty’s April 27 review conference.

“The worst can still be avoided, but to achieve this, strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran, including the Bushehr plant, must be stopped immediately,” said the statement.

Attacks on Saturday struck Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant and several petrochemical hubs, including the Mahshahr and Bandar Imam special petrochemical zones.

The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.