Rosatom reports 135 Russian staff returned to Bushehr nuclear plant
What happened
Russia's Rosatom announced that 135 Russian personnel have returned to work at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, a significant increase from approximately 20 staff who remained on-site following mass evacuations in February 2026. According to the statement, Rosatom had evacuated over 600 personnel when US-Israeli air strikes on Iran commenced in late February 2026. The announcement was made via Telegram on 11 October 2026 and signals an operational return to the facility after eight months of reduced staffing.
Context and assessment
Bushehr, located on Iran's Persian Gulf coast, is the country's only operational civilian nuclear power plant and a key symbol of Iran's nuclear programme. The facility, built with Russian technical assistance and staffed partly by Rosatom engineers, has been a potential target during regional tensions. The February 2026 evacuation reflected acute security concerns during the US-Israeli strikes, which targeted Iranian military and nuclear-linked infrastructure. The return of Russian personnel in October suggests either that immediate strike risk is perceived to have diminished or that both Russia and Iran judge the facility's operational importance sufficient to restore near-normal staffing. This restoration may indicate a shift in threat assessment or a calculated decision to resume civilian energy production despite lingering regional tensions.
Sources and confidence
Single source: Telegram channel @ClashReport. No corroborating reports from Iranian state media, Rosatom's official website, or independent nuclear monitoring agencies are referenced. Confidence of 7.1 reflects the source's direct attribution to Rosatom but lack of independent verification. Confirmation from Iranian officials or IAEA statements would strengthen confidence; retraction or contradiction would lower it significantly.
Location
Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, situated in Bushehr Province on Iran's southwestern Persian Gulf coast (28.93°N, 50.86°E). The facility is located roughly 1,200 kilometres south of Tehran and approximately 140 kilometres west of the Strait of Hormuz. The plant occupies a coastal industrial zone and is Iran's only active civilian nuclear reactor station.
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