Russia's Rosatom begins main phase of evacuating staff from Iran
Moscow, April 5
Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom has begun the main phase of evacuating staff from the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev said.
A total of 198 Rosatom employees are being transported by bus toward the Iranian-Armenian border, Likhachev said.
"We very much hope that within two to three days our colleagues will safely cross nearly the entire territory of Iran and return home to our country," he said.
Likhachev added that the Iranian side is doing a great deal to ensure the safety of the Rosatom staff evacuation route, and cooperation with the Armenian government is proceeding smoothly, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Russian nuclear specialists will leave the region from Yerevan airport, he said.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran reported earlier that a projectile had hit an area near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, killing one security worker and marking the fourth such attack since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28.
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran seeks to secure the terms of a "conclusive and lasting" end to the US and Israeli war imposed on the country.
Araghchi condemned a US-Israeli strike near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant and warned of its potential lethal consequences for the West Asia region.
The Bushehr nuclear power plant, located about 17 km southeast of the city of Bushehr and under the cooperation with Russia, began supplying electricity in September 2011. In November 2014, Iran and Russia signed a cooperation agreement to add two reactors to the plant.
— IANS
Reader Comments
A security worker lost his life. That's the real tragedy here, beyond the geopolitics. My heart goes out to his family. These conflicts have a very human cost that often gets forgotten in the headlines.
From an Indian perspective, this highlights the volatility in our extended neighborhood. Energy security is paramount. Instability around nuclear facilities is a nightmare scenario for the entire region, including us.
The cooperation with Armenia for the evacuation route is interesting. Shows how regional dynamics shift during a crisis. Hope the evacuation is smooth and without further incident.
While the evacuation is necessary for safety, one has to wonder about the long-term implications for Iran's nuclear energy program. Russia has been a key partner. This could set back their civilian energy goals significantly.
Respectfully, the article mentions Iran seeking a "lasting end" to the war. But when facilities are being attacked, it's hard to see a diplomatic path forward. The cycle of escalation needs to stop for everyone's sake.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.