Russia will launch Iran's nuclear plant

Russia says it will undertake a key step next week towards starting up a reactor at Iran's first nuclear power station, according to BBC News.

Russia's state atomic corporation, which is building the plant, said engineers will begin loading the Bushehr reactor with fuel.
However, it is not known when the reactor will be fully operational.

Russia has been helping build the plant since the mid-1990s, amid tensions over Iran's nuclear program.

"The fuel will be charged in the reactor on 21 August. From this moment, Bushehr will be considered a nuclear installation," spokesman Sergei Novikov said.

Russia will also run the plant, supply the fuel and take away the fuel waste.

For that reason, nuclear experts say there is little immediate danger of the reactor being used to build nuclear weapons.