Russia Pulls Workers From Bushehr as War Reaches Iran’s Nuclear Doorstep
The Iran war entered dangerous new territory on Wednesday as Russia began evacuating personnel from Iran’s only nuclear power plant, Israel launched its most devastating industrial strikes yet, and the Pentagon revealed that nearly 300 American service members have been wounded since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28.
With President Trump’s March 27 deadline just two days away — and Iran flatly rejecting Washington’s 15-point ceasefire proposal — the conflict is accelerating on every front simultaneously.
Russia’s Nuclear Exodus: 163 More Workers Flee Bushehr
Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom evacuated another 163 staff from Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on Wednesday, according to Reuters, citing Russia’s state-run RIA news agency. Only about 300 Russian personnel remain at the facility — down from nearly 640 at the start of the war.
Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev confirmed plans for “several rounds of personnel evacuations” after a projectile struck the grounds of the nuclear complex for the second time in recent days. The first incident occurred last week.
Russia built the existing reactor at Bushehr and had been constructing additional units before the war forced a halt to all construction work. The plant sits roughly 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from what Western intelligence has identified as the Min Zadai nuclear weapons facility, which was struck by U.S.-Israeli forces in early March.
Moscow condemned the strikes near the plant in strong terms. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said Russia was in “continual contact” with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the situation, while Likhachev called the proximity of combat operations to an active nuclear reactor “extremely concerning.”
The evacuations signal a dramatic shift in Russia’s posture. Despite being a key partner in Iran’s civilian nuclear program, Moscow appears to be hedging its bets — unwilling to risk Russian lives at a facility increasingly caught in the crossfire.
IDF Hammers Isfahan: Submarine Lab, Missile Factories, Explosives Plant Destroyed
Israel launched what it called an “extensive” wave of strikes on March 24 and 25 targeting Iran’s military-industrial backbone in Isfahan Province and beyond.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the destruction of several high-value targets:
- Iran’s only submarine research and development center — a facility in Isfahan responsible for developing Iran’s undersea warfare capabilities
- Iran’s “main” explosives production facility — also located in the Isfahan area, a critical node in Iran’s weapons manufacturing chain
- Two naval cruise missile production sites in Tehran — striking at the heart of Iran’s ability to threaten shipping in the Persian Gulf
- Military assets in Yazd, Bandar Abbas, Karaj, and Shiraz — including sites in the Alborz industrial zone
According to an Israeli military correspondent, the IDF has now destroyed or rendered inaccessible approximately 330 of Iran’s estimated 470 ballistic missile launchers. Over half were destroyed in direct strikes, while the remainder are buried in underground facilities that are currently inaccessible.
This represents a staggering degradation of Iran’s offensive missile capability — roughly 70% of its launch capacity eliminated in less than a month of operations.
The strikes on Isfahan’s production facilities are strategically significant because they target Iran’s ability to rebuild. Destroying launchers is temporary; destroying the factories that make the missiles and warheads is permanent.
290 Americans Wounded: Pentagon Updates Casualty Figures
U.S. Central Command disclosed on Wednesday that 290 American service members have been injured since Operation Epic Fury began. Of those, more than 255 have been treated and returned to duty, while approximately 35 remain in medical care.
The casualty figure has doubled in just two weeks — CENTCOM reported roughly 140 wounded as of March 10. The increase reflects Iran’s sustained retaliatory missile and drone attacks against U.S. bases across the region.
The Pentagon has also ordered 2,000 additional airborne troops to the Middle East, according to the New York Times, further expanding the American military footprint in the theater. The deployment comes as Iran has threatened to mine the Persian Gulf if a ground invasion appears imminent.
Iran’s Five Demands: Reparations, Hormuz Sovereignty, End to All Fronts
Tehran’s rejection of Washington’s 15-point ceasefire plan was accompanied by a five-point counterproposal that Western analysts have called a non-starter. Iran’s conditions, reported by state broadcaster Press TV, include:
- An immediate end to all “acts of aggression” — meaning a full halt to U.S. and Israeli strikes
- Guarantees the war will not recur — effectively demanding a security pact
- Payment of war damages and reparations — a demand with no precedent in U.S. military history
- End of hostilities across all fronts — including Lebanon, where Hezbollah continues to fight
- Iran’s “exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz” — a direct challenge to international maritime law
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state media that Iran has “no intention” of negotiating with the United States, though he acknowledged the American proposal was “being reviewed by top authorities in Tehran.”
The contradiction is telling. Iran appears to be buying time while its military infrastructure is systematically dismantled.
Netanyahu Expands Lebanon Buffer Zone
Adding another dimension to the escalating conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that Israel is expanding its “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed that IDF forces have blown up bridges on the Litani River — approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the Israeli-Lebanese border — and that a security zone would be established. Displaced Lebanese residents will not be allowed to return until northern Israel is deemed safe.
Netanyahu described the occupation zone as a “real buffer zone” designed to push back the threat posed by Hezbollah, which has claimed dozens of daily attacks against Israeli positions since the war began.
Lebanon’s death toll has crossed 1,000 since the conflict expanded to the northern front, according to Haaretz.
The March 27 Clock Is Ticking
President Trump extended his ultimatum to Iran to reach a deal by March 27 — now just two days away. Trump had previously threatened to strike Iranian power plants if Iran does not stop attacks around the Strait of Hormuz by the deadline.
On March 24, Trump claimed in the Oval Office that “we’ve won this war” and that Iran had agreed to “never” have a nuclear weapon. He said Tehran had given him a “gift” that was “oil and gas-related” involving the Strait of Hormuz, without providing details.
Iranian officials promptly called those claims “fake news” designed to “manipulate” oil markets.
The conflicting narratives — Trump declaring victory while Iran refuses to negotiate and continues launching missiles — suggest the war is far from over. With Russia pulling its nuclear workers out of Bushehr, Israel systematically dismantling Iran’s industrial base, and the March 27 deadline approaching, the next 48 hours could prove decisive.
What Comes Next
The war is now in its 26th day. Iran’s missile launch capacity has been degraded by roughly 70%. Russia is evacuating its nuclear personnel. Israel is expanding its ground operations in Lebanon. And nearly 300 American troops have been wounded.
Yet Iran refuses to negotiate, demands reparations, and insists on sovereignty over one of the world’s most critical waterways.
Something has to give — and the March 27 deadline may force the issue. Whether that means escalation to power plant strikes, a last-minute diplomatic breakthrough, or something entirely unexpected remains the most dangerous open question in global security today.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.