Russian personnel are being evacuated from the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran following reports of explosions near the facility, raising concerns about the security of the site amid escalating regional tensions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the evacuation after being briefed by Alexei Likhachev, head of Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom, who warned of a potential “catastrophe.”
More than 600 Russian workers are involved in the construction of two new reactor units at the Bushehr plant, but work has been suspended due to the reported explosions, according to a report in The Mirror.
Even as a full evacuation is underway, some Russian specialists will remain at the plant to maintain critical equipment and complete essential work that cannot be interrupted without compromising safety.
Likhachev stated that the existing reactor at Bushehr is currently operating at full capacity with approximately 72 tons of nuclear fuel, and an additional 210 tons of spent fuel are stored on site – representing a “huge mass of fissile material.”
“An attack would certainly be a regional catastrophe. This is something that all parties involved in the conflict must understand, regardless of their political views,” Likhachev warned, according to the Interfax news agency.
Separate Facilities
The Bushehr nuclear power plant, located approximately 780 miles south of Tehran, is Iran’s only operational commercial nuclear facility and is physically separate from Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities, which have been the subject of international scrutiny and past conflicts.
The collaboration between Russia and Iran on the Bushehr project is seen as a significant symbol of the strategic partnership between the two countries, and a prolonged suspension of work could have both political and economic repercussions.
The current conflict in the Middle East began with reported strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran on Saturday, February 28th. Iran subsequently launched a military response, attacking Israel and U.S. Bases in the Persian Gulf with missiles and drones.
During what was described as “Epic Fury,” Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed, and his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was allegedly injured in the same strike.
Photo: ČTK/AP
Nuclear complex in Bushehr, southwestern Iran
