Russia to Expand Nuclear Workforce at Iran's Bushehr Plant
Rosatom plans to increase its workforce at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant to 700 specialists as Russia and Iran accelerate joint nuclear energy projects.
The Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom plans to increase its workforce at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant to approximately 700 specialists. This expansion reverses previous evacuations triggered by a U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began in February 2026. Currently, the site employs 192 experts, a number Rosatom intends to raise to 200 by November before further personnel return in early 2027 to support the construction of reactor Units 2 and 3.
Director General Alexei Likhachev stated that while the current situation is calm, the pace of deployment remains dependent on the regional military situation. Any further escalation would slow the buildup. The workforce expansion coincides with a visit by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Moscow for the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, where he met with President Vladimir Putin.
Beyond Bushehr, Russia and Iran are deepening their strategic partnership through several new agreements. The two nations have signed contracts to build eight additional nuclear power units and are finalizing a protocol to accelerate the joint construction of small modular reactors. This cooperation includes a $25 billion project to build four power units for the Hormoz Nuclear Power Plant in Hormozgan province, following a September 2025 agreement.
