Headlines
Russia's rosatom says it will stay in iran despite war
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 12, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 12, 2026
Quick Summary
Rosatom confirms it will remain in Iran to complete construction of Bushehr nuclear plant units 2 and 3 despite regional conflict. While some staff and families have been evacuated amid US‑Israeli strikes, around 450 employees continue operations under tense but controlled conditions.
Russia’s Rosatom Remains Committed to Bushehr Nuclear Project in Iran
Rosatom’s Ongoing Involvement in Iran’s Nuclear Development
Commitment Amid Middle East Conflict
MOSCOW, March 12 (Reuters) - Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom will stay in Iran despite the conflict in the Middle East and is committed to its agreement to build two more units at the Bushehr nuclear plant, its head Alexei Likhachev said on Thursday.
Impact of Regional Tensions on Rosatom Operations
Evacuation and Suspension of Construction
Rosatom, which built the first 1‑gigawatt unit of Iran’s sole nuclear power plant at Bushehr, evacuated some of its staff and suspended construction work on the new units after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28.
Current Workforce Status
Around 450 Rosatom employees remain at the site, Likhachev said, after 150 returned to Russia via Armenia this week.
Strategic Priorities and Statements from Rosatom
Focus on Second and Third Units
"The construction of the second and third units remains among the corporation’s priorities. It is definitely not the time to leave. What is happening in the Middle East is only part of a global mosaic," Rosatom quoted Likhachev as saying.
Security Situation at Bushehr
On Monday, Likhachev said that the situation around Bushehr remained tense but that there had been no strikes on either the plant or the construction site.
Expansion of Nuclear Cooperation Between Russia and Iran
Bilateral Agreements and Future Projects
A bilateral agreement between Russia and Iran allows for the construction of up to eight nuclear units, four of them at Bushehr.
New Nuclear Projects and Memoranda
Last autumn, Iran said it had signed a $25 billion agreement with Rosatom to build four nuclear power units with a capacity of 5 gigawatts at another site in the country’s southeast. The parties also signed a memorandum on developing small nuclear power plants in Iran.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Anastasia Lyrchikova. Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Key Takeaways
- •Rosatom reaffirmed commitment to its agreement with Iran, emphasizing that now is “definitely not the time to leave,” and has not abandoned plans for two new units at Bushehr. (apnews.com)
- •The corporation evacuated about 94 non‑essential staff and employees' children, and is ready to evacuate an additional 150–200 when safe, yet maintains around 450–639 personnel onsite. (al-monitor.com)
- •Despite nearby US‑Israeli airstrikes, the Bushehr plant and its surroundings have avoided direct hits, operations remain under control, though risks and communication challenges persist. (intellinews.com)
References
- Russia condemns US-Israel strikes on Iran as 'unprovoked act of armed aggression'
- Russian Rosatom evacuates people from Iran, keeps staff at Bushehr plant - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012
- bne IntelliNews - Rosatom confirms Bushehr nuclear plant undamaged as Russia evacuates 94 people
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia's Rosatom says it will stay in Iran despite war
1Is Rosatom continuing construction at the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran?
Yes, Rosatom has confirmed it will continue work on two additional units at the Bushehr nuclear plant despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
2Were any Rosatom staff evacuated from Iran recently?
Yes, 150 Rosatom employees were evacuated to Russia via Armenia following recent strikes, but 450 remain at the Bushehr site.
3Has the Bushehr nuclear plant or construction site been affected by recent strikes?
According to Rosatom, there have been no strikes on either the Bushehr plant or its construction site.
4What future projects are planned between Rosatom and Iran?
Rosatom and Iran have a bilateral agreement for up to eight nuclear units, including four at Bushehr and four with a $25 billion agreement at another site in southeast Iran.
5What is included in the recent memorandum between Rosatom and Iran?
The memorandum includes plans for developing small nuclear power plants in Iran.
