Rosatom is preparing to evacuate personnel from the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran
The state-owned corporation Rosatom has begun preparations to withdraw the last large group of specialists from the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran. According to the company’s CEO, Alexei Likhachev, the evacuation will involve more than 200 people.
This was reported by the Associated Press.
Moscow plans to leave only a limited number of volunteers at the facility to maintain critical reactor operations. To ensure the safe withdrawal of personnel, the Russian side intends to ask the U.S. and Israel for a temporary ceasefire in the area around the plant.
Despite statements by Russia and Iran regarding several fires on the nuclear power plant’s grounds, the IAEA has not yet confirmed any damage to the reactor or radiation leaks. The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, built with Russian assistance and commissioned in 2011, is a key facility in Iran’s energy sector, although it accounts for only 1–2% of the country’s total grid capacity. The plant’s water-cooled reactor has a capacity of 1,000 MW, which allows it to supply electricity to hundreds of thousands of households and industrial enterprises.
The evacuation of Russian nuclear workers is taking place amid escalating hostilities in the region, which poses risks to the safe operation of the facility. Russian officials emphasize the need for diplomatic guarantees from the parties to the conflict to complete the logistical operation. The situation surrounding Bushehr remains under close scrutiny by international regulators due to potential threats to nuclear safety in the Middle East.
It is worth noting that the rise in global energy prices, caused by the U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran, significantly facilitates the Kremlin’s financing of its aggression against Ukraine.
The U.S. administration has extended Kazakhstan’s permission to transit Russian oil via pipeline to China until March 19, 2027.
On March 31, the U.S. temporarily lifted sanctions on several Russian vessels. This applies to container ships and tankers flying the Russian flag that were already en route. New shipments and transactions with Iran remain prohibited.
