Russia to downsize specialists at nuclear plant in Iran over crises: state corporation

Russia will temporarily cut the number of its specialists at Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant to a minimum until the situation stabilizes, Alexey Likhachev, director general of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said on Wednesday.

An attack near the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant occurred at 9:00 p.m. Moscow time (1800 GMT) on Tuesday, leaving no casualties, Likhachev said. According to Iranian authorities, the plant suffered no damage, and the facility continues to operate normally.

"The health and lives of our people are our top priority," Likhachev said. "Two more groups will be evacuated in the near future."

Previously, a building within the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant complex was struck by a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on March 17.

The first unit of the plant, constructed with Russia's assistance, was opened in September 2011.