Russia has withdrawn another group of personnel from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant following what it described as a “reckless” air strike near the reactor. The incident occurred on Tuesday night when a projectile landed within the plant’s compound, prompting Iran’s atomic energy organisation to accuse the United States and Israel of responsibility.
The Bushehr plant, partially constructed by Russia on Iran’s Gulf coast, relies on Russian technicians for operation. Russia’s foreign ministry condemned the air strike in a statement, calling it “deeply outrageous” and warning that the aggressors appear to be seeking to provoke a large scale nuclear disaster in the region.
Rosatom, Russia’s atomic energy agency, confirmed the evacuation, citing safety concerns for its staff. “Today at approximately 7:20 am Moscow time 0420 GMT 163 people left Bushehr for the Iranian Armenian border,” said Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev. He added that about 300 staff remain at the site, with a few dozen staying to oversee equipment.
Earlier, 150 personnel had already been withdrawn amid fears of further air strikes. Russia was also in the process of constructing two new reactors at Bushehr before the conflict escalated.
The UN’s nuclear watchdog issued a statement on Tuesday urging “maximum restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks,” highlighting concerns about the potential impact on regional and global security.
The evacuation underscores the growing tension in the region and the vulnerability of critical nuclear infrastructure amid escalating military actions. International observers continue to monitor the situation closely, warning of serious consequences if further incidents occur.
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