Rosatom CEO: Russian specialists to start gradually returning to Iran's Bushehr NPP once risk of strikes minimized

KAZAN. June 17 (Interfax) - Russian specialists are ready to return to Iran as soon as the risk of strikes on the country is minimized, Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev said.

"As soon as we understand that the risk of strikes, the risk to the lives and health of our personnel has been minimized, we'll start gradually returning to the site. We're ready for this, such plans have been drafted and agreed upon with the country's leadership," Likhachev told reporters while replying to a question from Interfax at a Russia-ASEAN summit on Wednesday.

Despite some difficulties, including those related to funding, work on nuclear power plant equipment at metallurgical and mechanical engineering sites is continuing, he said.

"People want to come back. We've been there for a long time, we have serious intentions, we're respected, and we treat our customers with deep respect. And certainly, Bushehr is our priority, and we'll continue working on it," Likhachev said.