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Israel has assured Russia that it will not target Russian specialists working at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed on Thursday, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

 

Peskov highlighted the significance of ongoing diplomacy amid escalating regional tensions. He said, “Just yesterday, President [Vladimir] Putin referred to an understanding with Tel Aviv about the safety of Russian scientists working at the nuclear power plant.”

 

He further noted that despite the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict, Moscow maintains “cordial relations” with Tehran and a “partnership of trust” with Israel.

 

President Putin had earlier confirmed that Moscow and Tel Aviv had reached an agreement to ensure the safety of Russian personnel engaged in constructing Units 2 and 3 of the Bushehr plant. He added, “The conflict needs to be solved with Iranian aspirations while taking into account the security of the Jewish state.”

Also read: Iran hits Israel's top research facility, scientists mourn loss

 

Russia has long supported Iran’s civilian nuclear development, chiefly through its role in completing the Bushehr plant. The facility, initially launched by German firms before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, was revived in the 1990s under the aegis of Russia’s state atomic energy corporation, Rosatom.

 

The first reactor of the Bushehr plant became operational in 2011. Earlier this year, Iranian officials announced that construction of the next two units had reached 17 per cent completion.

 

Tensions escalated sharply last Friday when Israel launched what it called preventive air strikes against targets in Iran, alleging that Tehran was nearing the capability to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran rejected the accusations and retaliated with a volley of drones and missiles aimed at Israeli targets.

 

The Israeli actions have prompted widespread international concern. Russia strongly condemned the strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as “illegal” and warned that they risked triggering a “nuclear catastrophe”.