Surprise Move by Rosatom at Iran's Bushehr Plant Amid Regional Tensions

Alexey Likhachev, head of Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom, said on Wednesday that the company will increase the number of construction workers at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant to 200 during November, as part of efforts to align staff numbers with the project schedule.

He explained that the workforce size will reach the required level to ensure construction proceeds according to plan by early 2027.

The company had previously evacuated hundreds of employees from the Bushehr plant, which is Iran's only operational nuclear power station, following the outbreak of war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in February.

Rosatom is currently constructing two new nuclear units at the same site.

Likhachev told reporters, "Of course, any potential escalation in the military situation could affect work progress. We are preparing for such a possibility, but we are proceeding now based on an optimistic scenario."