Communication with Iranian nuclear industry leadership completely lost - Likhachev

Rosatom concerned about the safety of Iranian nuclear facilities amid escalating conflict

The Bushehr nuclear power plant, where 639 Russian specialists are currently located, remains under hourly monitoring by Rosatom, despite the complete loss of telephone and electronic communication with the leadership of the Iranian nuclear industry. Alexey Likhachev, Director General of the state corporation, confirmed that work at the facility has been suspended, and the threat to the plant is growing as hostilities escalate in the region.

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant
Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant

According to him, both telephone and electronic communication are absent, which makes it impossible to assess the physical condition of the facilities.

Communication with the leadership of the Iranian nuclear industry has been lost.
Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Corporation

639 Russian specialists continue to work at the station. During lulls between attacks, it is planned to evacuate 150–200 employees.

Likhachev emphasized that a possible strike on Bushehr, where 70 tons of nuclear fuel and 210 tons of spent fuel are stored, could lead to a regional catastrophe.

As a reminder, representatives of Rosatom State Corporation already evacuated 94 people from Iran on February 28, 2026 — employees' children, excess personnel, and all those who wished to leave the country.

The construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran began in 1975, but was stopped. In 1992, the governments of Russia and Iran concluded an agreement to resume the project. The first power unit was connected to the grid in September 2011, and its launch took place in June 2013.

In 2014, an agreement was signed between Russia and Iran on the construction of two new power units with a capacity of 2.1 thousand MW. It was planned that the second unit would be completed in 2026, and the third in 2027.

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