Overview
Russia has signalled it would move to remove its staff from the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran if the situation demanded, the head of the Russian state nuclear company was quoted as saying by the state news agency TASS.
Who is involved
The comment was attributed to Alexei Likhachev, who leads Russia’s state nuclear corporation. President Vladimir Putin has said that the facility hosts hundreds of Russian workers. Moscow originally constructed the Bushehr plant for Iran and continues to expand the site with additional nuclear facilities.
Context and prior warnings
Officials noted that a U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear installations in June last year did not target Bushehr. At the time, Likhachev warned that any attack on the plant could provoke a disaster comparable to the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe.
Recent U.S. statements
U.S. President Donald Trump recently called on Iran to negotiate a deal renouncing nuclear weapons, warning that a subsequent U.S. strike would be more severe should Iran refuse. In the wake of those remarks, Russian officials reiterated their hope that parties to the conflict would respect the inviolability of the Bushehr territory.
Evacuation readiness
Likhachev was quoted as saying: "We sincerely hope that the parties to the conflict will uphold their commitments regarding the inviolability of this territory (Bushehr). But, as they say, we are keeping our finger on the pulse and, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence, we will be ready to carry out evacuation measures if necessary."
Positions on Iran’s nuclear programme
Iran maintains it is not seeking nuclear weapons. Russia has stated its position in support of Iran’s right to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
This report presents statements and facts as cited by the state news agency and official comments; it does not add or infer material beyond those accounts.