Russia boosts presence at Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant with 150 specialists

Russia plans to increase the number of specialists working at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant to around 150 in the coming period, as Russian technical staff gradually return to the facility after their numbers were reduced due to the threat of US and Israeli military action against Iran.

The Russian state-owned company Rosatom evacuated about 600 specialists from Bushehr when hostilities began on February 28, but has since started bringing staff back as risks have eased. The company continues work on constructing two new nuclear units at the site, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.

In August, Rosatom announced that dozens of Russian specialists would return to Bushehr in September, with the number of personnel on site expected to exceed 100 as part of a gradual return of staff previously withdrawn amid rising security concerns.

Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said earlier that Russian specialists were ready to return to Iran gradually once the threat of strikes diminished. The company later announced plans to further increase staffing at Bushehr this month.

Russia’s presence at Bushehr is a key aspect of nuclear cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. Moscow built the plant and is involved in its operation, fuel supply, and technical services. In August, Rosatom said it saw prospects for expanding its nuclear projects in Iran to include both large-scale gigawatt plants and smaller facilities.

Bushehr has gained additional significance during the conflict as Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant, with Russian experts working continuously to ensure its operation and maintenance. When US and Israeli strikes on Iran began in February, Rosatom evacuated some staff and their families, while keeping essential personnel on site to maintain plant operations.

At the time, the company stressed that nuclear facilities should never be military targets under any circumstances. In March, the Kremlin warned that US and Israeli strikes near the plant were "extremely dangerous," and said any attack on the facility could have irreparable consequences.

In April, projectiles struck an area near the Bushehr plant, killing one person, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which confirmed that no increase in radiation levels was detected after the incident.