Rosatom resumes work at Bushehr as $25 billion Sirik plant moves forward

Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation, reported on October 11 that 135 engineering and technical specialists had returned to the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The personnel returned to the southern coast site after evacuating most staff following the start of the US-Iran war in February. Their presence marks a resumption of on-site operations for the Russian firm at Iran's first operating nuclear station.

Work at Bushehr continues on two additional reactor units. The second unit has passed 60 percent completion, with a target start date of 2029. Construction is also underway on a third unit, according to Rosatom. The initial reactor at the site began full commercial electricity generation in 2013, a year after a contract signed in 1995 to complete the unit.

Beyond Bushehr, Russia and Iran are advancing a new nuclear facility called Sirik. Located in Hormozgan Province near the Strait of Hormuz, the plant was agreed upon in September 2025. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported the deal is worth $25 billion. The units are designed for a combined capacity of about 5 gigawatts, which exceeds the under 3 gigawatts capacity of the finished Bushehr complex.

The partnership is grounded in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, which entered into force in October 2025. A specific intergovernmental Cooperation Plan for 2024-2026, approved in September 2024, outlines the practical steps for these projects. For Russia, the arrangement provides commercial revenue and Middle Eastern influence. For Iran, it secures access to nuclear technology, expertise, and fuel supplies.

Analysts note the relationship has shifted in Moscow's favor. Nikita Smagin of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace wrote in November 2025 that the balance is shifting toward Russia because Iran needs investment and Russia remains one of the few available sources. Researchers Dmitry Kovchegin and Arkady Mil-Man at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies described Moscow’s policy as a calculated balancing strategy. They said Russia uses limited assistance and mediation offers to improve its relations with the United States while rhetorically condemning military escalation.

International oversight of these projects faces obstacles. In a June 4 report, the International Atomic Energy Agency stated it inspected Bushehr from June 1 to 3. However, the agency could not conduct inspections at other declared sites, including four uranium enrichment facilities, during that period. The IAEA said it could not verify the status of nuclear material at those sites or confirm if Iran suspended enrichment and reprocessing activities.

The IAEA findings describe the situation during a specific reporting period and are not a real-time assessment. Nonproliferation specialists have raised concerns about transparency. The Arms Control Association noted in June 2025 that Iran’s uranium enriched to 60 percent has no civil justification. The group stated this level puts Iran in a better position to quickly produce enough weapons-grade material for a bomb.