Iran vows to expand its nuclear power program with Russia, undeterred by recent Israeli cyber-operations and growing Western pressure.
Iran is once again charging forward on its nuclear ambitions, openly confirming plans to build eight new nuclear reactors with Russian assistance — despite the crippling effects of Operation Rising Lion, the Israeli-led cyber and precision strike campaign that exposed deep vulnerabilities in Tehran’s atomic infrastructure.
Speaking to Iranian media on Tuesday, Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), admitted that significant damage was inflicted on several nuclear facilities but insisted that the regime’s nuclear expansion continues unabated.
“Production of radiopharmaceuticals has not stopped and will continue uninterrupted,” Eslami declared defiantly, claiming Iran had reached nearly 500 technological milestones since 2022 — though independent experts believe many of these “achievements” mask dual-use military applications.
Eslami confirmed that one reactor is operational, two are under construction, and five additional Russian-backed units — designed to generate 5,000 megawatts — are planned in Hormozgan Province, along the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Western intelligence sources warn that such facilities could easily double as cover operations for uranium enrichment and weapons testing.
During a closed-door session of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei revealed that Parliament is preparing a retaliatory policy against the European troika’s activation of the UN snapback mechanism, which could reimpose sweeping sanctions on Iran.
Eslami also lashed out at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing it of failing to protect Iran’s “classified data” — a claim seen in Israel and the West as a deflection from Tehran’s ongoing violations of nuclear transparency commitments.
Iran’s renewed alignment with Russia underscores a growing axis of authoritarian energy cooperation, one that combines Moscow’s nuclear expertise with Tehran’s ideological militancy. Analysts note that this development directly challenges both Israel’s regional deterrence and the U.S.-led coalition working to prevent Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons.
As Operation Rising Lion continues to disrupt and delay Iran’s atomic progress, Eslami’s bravado appears aimed more at restoring domestic morale than reflecting actual stability within the program. For Israel and its allies, the message is clear: Iran’s nuclear threat remains alive — but far from unstoppable.
