Donald Trump to attack Iran's Bushehr nuclear site in 48 hours? Russia launches massive evacuation at key power plant

Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom evacuated a further 198 of its staff from Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant today, Russian news agencies reported. This movement came even as President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Tehran had 48 hours left to cut a deal or face "all Hell", as US and Iranian forces scrambled to find a downed American airman.

Russia Evacuation from Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant

Rosatom ‌has been ⁠evacuating ⁠staff from the plant since ​the Iran war broke out at the end ​of February. Saturday's evacuations had been planned before the International Atomic Energy ​Agency said in ⁠a post ‌on X on Saturday ​that ​one of the plant’s ⁠physical protection staff was killed by a ​projectile fragment and that a ​building on site was affected by shockwaves and fragments.


Russian news agencies cited Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev as saying that developments ‌near the plant were unfolding in line with the ​worst-case scenario. Likhachev ​said ⁠that the killed staff member was an Iranian national. Rosatom said it had informed ​Russian President Vladimir Putin on the situation surrounding the plant, the TASS news agency cited Likhachev as saying.

Donald Trump's Latest Threat

Trump's latest threat came after a strike near an Iranian nuclear power plant prompted evacuations, and as Tehran announced fresh attacks in the region, with the Revolutionary Guards saying they hit a commercial ship in Bahrain allegedly linked to Israel.

The war erupted more than a month ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering a retaliation that has spread the conflict throughout the Middle East and convulsed the global economy -- particularly due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for oil and gas.

"Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT," Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to an ultimatum issued on March 26.

"Time is running out -- 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them," President Trump posted on Truth Social.

Tehran said on Friday it had shot down an F-15 warplane and US media reported United States special forces had rescued one of its two crew members, with the other still missing.

Iran's military also said it downed a US A-10 ground attack aircraft in the Gulf, with US media saying the pilot of that plane was rescued.