Iran's first nuclear power plant 'goes operational', state radio claims

Iran faced global condemnation today after it defied safety warnings and launched the country's first nuclear power plant.

Western countries including the United Kingdom and the U.S. have for years feared the controversial plant could be used to develop nuclear weapons.

The country has in recent times been locked in a tense stand-off over its nuclear intentions, with its leaders refusing reveal its plans.

Facility: The controversial Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran has become operational, according to Iranian officials

But they have now been branded 'troubling' after they defied calls to join safety programs and instead continue with the launch of the Bushehr nuclear plant.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi confirmed yesterday that the country's only nuclear plant had become operational.

History: Work on the plant was started by German companies in 1975

'As we have previously announced, Bushehr power plant has reached the criticality stage (and) it has been successfully launched,' Salehi said according Iran FM.

The criticality stage, or fission process, allows the atoms to split by themselves in a chain reaction without interference from operators.

The process is expected to last some two months, during which period the plant will generate around 40 per cent of its power capacity.

'We assure the (Iranian) nation that safety has the final say in Bushehr power plant,' Salehi added.

He said that modern technologies that were used in the construction of the plant have ensured that it is 'amongst one of the safest in the world'.

'We assure the (Iranian) nation that safety has the final say in Bushehr power plant,' he added.

Construction of the Bushehr plant began in 1975 by several German companies.

But work was halted when the U.S. imposed an embargo on hi-tech supplies to Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Russia signed a contract with Iran to complete the construction in 1998.

However, building work was postponed several times amid technical and financial challenges and pressure from the United States.

The start-up of Iran's existing plant at Bushehr on the Persian Gulf began this month only after years of delays

Reassurances: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the plant was safe

The project quickly ran into a new setback just a few weeks ago, when engineers had to remove 163 fuel rods after damage was discovered at one of the reactor's main cooling pumps.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sought to ease concerns in the wake of the Fukushima accident, telling Spanish state television that 'all safety rules and regulations and the highest standards have been applied' to Bushehr's construction. But critics are unconvinced.

'Iran's decision to start up Bushehr without joining the Convention on Nuclear Safety is troubling,' says Glyn Davis, the chief U.S. envoy to the IAEA.

'Especially in light of the Fukushima accident, we believe it's of paramount importance that (IAEA) member states avail themselves of every opportunity to improve the safety of their nuclear facilities.'

A Russian diplomat last week confirmed that the plant was predicted to be operational 'within a few weeks'.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said: 'We are keeping up with the schedule, which was adjusted by request of Iranian partners. I can confirm that it (the full operation) is a matter of few weeks.'