Rosatom Returns Engineering Staff to Bushehr Nuclear Plant

The Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom began returning engineering personnel to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran on Sunday. CEO Alexey Likhachev announced that five specialists have already arrived, bringing the total number of Russian specialists at the site to 25. The corporation plans to deploy several dozen more employees in the coming weeks, with a goal of increasing project staff to 100 by the fall.

This deployment follows a period of instability that began in March, when Russia evacuated personnel after U.S.-Israeli attacks near the facility, including a projectile strike on the plant's premises. While a ceasefire was reached in April and a framework deal signed in June, the agreement collapsed last month. This led to two weeks of exchanged attacks before U.S. President Donald Trump halted the bombardment.

Likhachev stated that the full return to prewar staffing levels depends on the diplomatic situation and final agreements between Washington and Tehran regarding a cessation of hostilities. Current work at the site focuses on the construction of main and auxiliary buildings for Units 2 and 3, as well as preparatory work on hydraulic engineering facilities.