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The presence of more than 200 Russian technicians at Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant has deterred Israeli attacks on the facility, even as Israel has targeted other Iranian nuclear sites in recent strikes.
The Bushehr plant, located in southern Iran along the Persian Gulf coast, represents one of the country's most significant nuclear installations. Construction began in 1976 following a nuclear energy agreement between Iran and Germany, but the project was abandoned when German contractors left after completing approximately 70% of the work during Iran's 1979 Revolution.
A second construction phase with German partners was interrupted during the Iran-Iraq War when Iraq bombed Bushehr. Tehran then signed an agreement with Russia in 1995 to complete the facility, though delays caused by U.S. and allied pressure on Moscow, along with other international factors, prevented completion until 2012.
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The 1,000-megawatt nuclear power station began operations in September 2011 with initial 60-megawatt electricity generation, scaling up to 940 megawatts by April 2012. The facility was transferred to Iran in September 2013 after reaching full capacity in 2012.
Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced during a January 2015 visit to Bushehr that the plant's electricity generation had increased to 3,000 megawatts.
Israel has targeted the Natanz and Fordo nuclear facilities in recent attacks, as well as striking the Arak Heavy Water Plant. Initial assessments indicated no damage or nuclear leakage at Arak.
Iranian Atomic Energy Organization spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi reported minor damage at the Fordo facility in Qom province following Israeli strikes, but stated no nuclear contamination occurred. At the Natanz facility in Isfahan, Kamalvandi said nuclear contamination occurred within the facility but did not spread beyond its boundaries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that Russian engineers are helping Iran build two new reactors at Bushehr, with 250 Russian specialists currently working at the site.
"We are in constant dialogue with our Iranian partners. Our specialists are working in Bushehr, 250 people are there. We are not leaving there. This is support," Putin said in response to a question from Anadolu Agency Director General Serdar Karagoz about Russia's support plans for Iran.
Putin also indicated that Russia has reached an understanding with the Israeli leadership regarding the security of Russian personnel working in Iran.
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