Russia warned of a potential nuclear catastrophe on Saturday after repeated strikes near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, the country's only operational reactor. The state nuclear corporation Rosatom stated that the situation at the facility continues to deteriorate amid attacks that pose a direct threat to nuclear safety.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran informed it of a strike near Bushehr late Friday at 11:40 p.m. local time, marking the third such incident in ten days. The IAEA confirmed no damage to the reactor core, no off-site radiation increase, and normal plant operations. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks.

Previous strikes included one on March 24, when a projectile landed inside the plant's compound, and another earlier in the week. No damage or radiation leaks were reported in those cases either. Iran's Atomic Energy Organization blamed the United States and Israel for the attacks.

Russia's Foreign Ministry expressed deep outrage over the March 24 strike, calling it a "reckless, irresponsible manifestation of a disastrous course." Spokesperson Maria Zakharova suggested the aggressors appeared to be deliberately seeking a large-scale nuclear catastrophe to justify their actions. The ministry noted strikes occurring increasingly closer to the operating Unit No. 1 and warned that any hit on the plant would cause irreversible humanitarian and environmental consequences.

Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev highlighted the risks, stating the plant contains 72 tons of fissile material and 210 tons of spent nuclear fuel. He previously called for a "safety island" around the site to prevent disaster. In response to the threats, Rosatom evacuated 163 personnel from Bushehr on Saturday, with two more groups scheduled to leave, leaving only a few dozen to oversee operations.

Bushehr, located on Iran's Persian Gulf coast, was built with Russian assistance and connected to the grid in 2011. Construction of two additional reactors halted after the escalation of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. The strikes occur amid broader hostilities, with Russia demanding condemnation from the IAEA and the United Nations.

Moscow has conveyed concerns directly to Washington and urged an end to attacks on nuclear infrastructure. Gulf states have also issued warnings about radioactive fallout risks, prompting some evacuations.