Russia has lost contact with Iran’s nuclear leadership, phone calls no longer answered: Report

Moscow has lost communication with the leadership of the Iranian nuclear facility as officials neither answered phone calls nor responded to emails, leaving more than 600 Russian citizens stranded, Director General Alexey Likhachev of Rosatom nuclear power company said on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, we have lost contact with the leadership of Iran’s entire nuclear industry: they are not answering their phones or responding to emails,” Russian media TASS cited Mr Likhachev as saying.
The director, who said Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities in Fordow and Natanz were struck with missiles, explained there was no way to assess the impact of the damage since officials were not responding to calls and enquiries.
“We still have no idea about the extent of the damage,” said the Rosatom CEO.
As the war between Iran and U.S.-Israeli forces entered its fourth day on Tuesday, Russia fears the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant may be targeted in an attack that could trigger a regional-scale destruction.
Mr Likhachev explained that the Bushehr Nuclear plant contains “a huge mass of fissile material” that could wipe out an entire region. He urged all parties of the war to exercise restraint.
“We must understand that the reactor is operating at capacity. It contains 72 tons of fuel and another 210 tons of spent fuel. This is a huge mass of fissile material. In the event of a strike, it would certainly be a regional-scale disaster,” Mr Likhachev said.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Likhachev said about 600 Russian citizens were awaiting evacuation at the facility.
“As of today, there are 639 people there; they are Russian citizens. There are no children there. We have managed to evacuate them. Not too many women remain there, but many women don’t want to leave. They want to stay with their husbands during these difficult times,” Mr Likhachev said.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States
Gov. Abiodun releases N6.75 billion for Ogun retirees’ gratuity, extra pension benefits
Mr Saka said, “The APB is separate from the funds in retirees’ Retirement Savings Accounts and does not reduce the savings accumulated in those accounts.”

Lagos
LASBCA condemns illegal building demolition in Alimosho, condoles victims’ families
LASBCA noted that demolition activities must be properly planned.

States
Banditry: Residents hail deployment of more police officers to Katsina communities
Mr Inuwa said they do not have access to their farms.

States
UNICEF mourns 26 children killed in DR Congo fire
UNICEF stated that the fire affected homes and two primary schools in Furaha and Ujamaa.

World
44 passengers injured as train derails in France
An 18-year-old woman who was critically injured was airlifted by a helicopter to Rouen University Hospital.

Diaspora
Latest killing of two compatriots in South Africa senseless, unacceptable: Nigerian Union
The union demanded a thorough investigation into the incidents.





