by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Russia announced Wednesday that it will expand its workforce at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, signaling renewed cooperation between Moscow and Tehran despite continuing regional tensions following the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran earlier this year.
Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation, plans to increase its construction workforce at Bushehr to 200 by November, with additional personnel expected to return in early 2027 as work progresses on two new nuclear reactors.
Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev said the company ultimately intends to restore its Russian workforce to approximately 700 specialists, reversing the evacuation of hundreds of employees following the outbreak of war in February.
Likhachev acknowledged that renewed military hostilities could disrupt the expansion but said the company was proceeding with plans to resume construction at full capacity.
The Bushehr facility, located along Iran’s Persian Gulf coast, is the country’s only operational nuclear power plant. Russia helped complete its first reactor and is currently constructing two additional units intended to expand Iran’s electricity-generating capacity.
The announcement comes as Moscow and Tehran deepen their strategic partnership, including agreements to develop additional nuclear facilities across Iran.
The expansion also comes amid international concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and limitations on international monitoring. While Bushehr is a civilian electricity-generating facility, Tehran’s broader nuclear program remains a major security concern for Israel and Western governments.
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