Tehran: Iran and Russia, who are cooperating in the field of nuclear energy, could present a new model for using such technology for peaceful purposes, a top Iranian nuclear agency official said.
"Iran and Russia showed that they can present a new model for using atom for man`s peace and welfare on the basis of human commonalities, mutual respect and the two countries` national interests," Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, Fereidoun Abbasi, said.
Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the official launch of the Bushehr nuclear power plant on Monday, he said the two countries had expanded their nuclear cooperation even as they were under immense pressure by those who don`t favor Iran`s progress and development.
The Bushehr nuclear power plant officially launched operation on Monday in the ceremony attended by senior officials of the AEOI, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Head of Russia`s Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) Sergei Kiriyenko.
Iran`s first nuclear power plant joined the country`s national grid with an initial 40 per cent of power generation capacity.
The country had signed a deal with Russia in 1995, according to which the plant was originally scheduled for completion in 1999. However, the project was repeatedly delayed by the Russian side allegedly due to pressure exerted on Moscow by the United States and its western allies. Russia finally completed construction of the plant last summer.
Iran started injecting fuel into the core of the plant in the initial phase of launching the nuclear reactor on October 26.
The second consignment of fuel for it was delivered from Russia earlier this year.
The facility operates under the full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
PTI