Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has sounded the alarm over the growing risk of a nuclear catastrophe, likening Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites to a potential repeat of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. His remarks follow reports that the United States is weighing the use of GBU-57 “bunker-buster” bombs on Iran’s fortified nuclear facilities.
Medvedev, who currently serves as Deputy Chair of Russia’s Security Council, criticized Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz for incendiary rhetoric directed at Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Everyone must understand—especially those in charge of launching such operations—that attacking nuclear facilities is extremely dangerous and could lead to a tragedy reminiscent of Chernobyl,” he stated on social media.
The Israeli airstrikes, which targeted nuclear facilities such as Fordow, have triggered a wave of retaliatory ballistic missile attacks from Iran. Although the US has denied intentions to use tactical nuclear weapons, officials confirmed that “no options are off the table.” Meanwhile, reports indicate that only a nuclear warhead could penetrate Fordow’s subterranean defenses.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed in a Wednesday press briefing that Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure remains largely intact. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned that any US decision to deploy tactical nuclear arms would be “catastrophic.”
Israel justifies its offensive as a preemptive strike to halt Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. However, Tehran maintains its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and remains under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The UN watchdog recently stated that no evidence of Iran pursuing a bomb has been found.
Tensions have escalated since Israel’s assassination of top Iranian nuclear scientists and military figures in an earlier strike last week—actions described by many global analysts as reckless brinkmanship with potentially global fallout.