BEIJING, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The director of Russia's leading nuclear power equipment and service export company said nuclear operations at Iran's Bushehr facility would start in late 2008.

Sergie Shmatko, director of Atomstroiexport, declined to cite specific dates regarding the operational launch of Iran's nuclear facility in Bushehr during a visit to China, but said it was likely to be toward the end of 2008, Voice of America reported Thursday.

Atomstroiexport spokeswoman Irina Yesipova told VOA the fuel shipments would proceed under the strict authority and supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

Yesipova said IAEA regulations specify nuclear fuel be on-site at the nuclear facility for six months before the start of operations at Bushehr.

Russia shipped more than 80 tons of nuclear fuel to the Bushehr plant Monday.

U.S. President Bush said Russia's cooperation with the Iranian nuclear program means Iran no longer needs to pursue uranium enrichment technology, which the Bush administration sees as a precursor to a nuclear weapons program.

Iran insists the program is for civilian energy production.