Rosatom resumes work at Bushehr as Iran approves $25 billion Sirik plant

Russian and Iranian officials have deepened their nuclear partnership despite Western sanctions and ongoing geopolitical tensions. The two nations are advancing construction on existing facilities while finalizing a new power plant worth $25 billion.

Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear corporation, reported that 135 engineering and technical specialists returned to the Bushehr site by October 11. This marks a return to normal operations after the company evacuated most of its staff following the start of the US-Iran war in February.

The Bushehr plant on Iran's southern coast has been the center of Russian-Iranian cooperation since a contract was signed in 1995. The first reactor began full commercial electricity generation in 2013. Rosatom stated that construction on a second unit is more than 60 percent complete, with a target operational date of 2029. Work on a third unit is also under way.

In September 2025, the two countries signed an agreement to build the Sirik nuclear power plant in Hormozgan Province. IRNA, Iran's state news agency, reported the deal is valued at $25 billion. The plant is located near the Strait of Hormuz and will have a combined capacity of approximately 5 gigawatts. This capacity exceeds the finished Bushehr complex, which is projected to produce under 3 gigawatts.

Analysts note that the partnership benefits both sides in different ways. Nikita Smagin, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote in November 2025 that the balance in the relationship is shifting in Russia's favor. He noted that Iran requires investment and that Russia remains one of the few available sources for such support.

Researchers Dmitry Kovchegin and Arkady Mil-Man at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies described Moscow's approach as a calculated balancing strategy. They wrote that Russia offers limited assistance and mediation services while seeking to improve its relations with the United States. This strategy involves rhetorical condemnation of military escalation and the provision of aid that does not alter the balance of power in the region.

The expansion of nuclear projects occurs while the International Atomic Energy Agency faces obstacles in monitoring Iran. A report published on June 4 stated that inspectors conducted an inspection at Bushehr from June 1 to 3. However, the agency said it could not inspect four uranium enrichment facilities during that period. The IAEA could not verify the status of nuclear material at those sites or confirm if Iran had suspended enrichment and reprocessing activities.

The Arms Control Association stated in a June 2025 analysis that enrichment to 60 percent has no civil justification. The group noted that this level puts Iran in a position to quickly produce material for a nuclear weapon. Russia and Iran have also expanded military contacts and arms transfers since 2022, according to a US-based Center for Naval Analyses analysis.