Rosatom is evacuating personnel from Iran’s nuclear facility in Bushehr following escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.
Rosatom and Iran Nuclear Cooperation
Rosatom began evacuating its employees from Iran at the start of the conflict between the US and Israel with Iran. Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev stated that events near the power plant are developing according to the “worst-case scenario.”
In the fall of last year, Iran announced the signing of a $25 billion agreement with Rosatom to build four nuclear power units with a capacity of 5 gigawatts in a new location in the southeast of the country. The parties also signed a memorandum on the development of small nuclear power plants in Iran.
Attack on Bushehr Facility and Casualties
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) previously reported that one of the projectiles that fell near the facility in Bushehr killed a security guard, and one building was damaged by shrapnel and the blast wave. Likhachev confirmed the deceased worker was an Iranian citizen.
The IAEA reported no increase in radiation levels, and main installations were not damaged, with production continuing uninterrupted.
Evacuation Details and Regional Conflict
Reuters noted Saturday’s evacuation was planned before the strike. Rosatom plans to temporarily reduce the number of plant employees to a minimum until the situation in Iran stabilizes. The company, which built the first unit of Iran’s only nuclear power plant in Bushehr, has already evacuated some of its personnel through Armenia.
Escalation of Conflict
The United States and Israel began attacks on Iran on February 28th. Iranian media reported the deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohammad Pakpour, and influential security advisor Ali Shamkhani the following day.
Tehran and affiliated armed groups are responding by striking US and Israeli military bases and diplomatic facilities in the Persian Gulf region.