Iran firing up nuclear power plant

TEHRAN, March 2 (UPI) -- Iranian and Russian technicians were encountering no problems Monday during start-up testing of Iran's first nuclear power plant, officials said.

"As pre-commissioning has already begun at the atomic power plant in Bushehr we are confident that we are moving toward the full commissioning of the plant," said Hassan Qashqavi, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman. "There are no problems and the parties involved, Iran and Russia, are seriously working to reach this objective. As technical experts have already pointed out a natural period of time is needed for the power plant to go through tests."

Qashqavi told reporters the 1,000-megawatt nuclear facility would be commissioned on time and with "full confidence," Press TV reported.

He also once again denounced contentions by Western powers that Iran intends to use its nuclear capacity for military purposes. He said Iran's nuclear activities are under the full supervision of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors.

"We have nothing to hide and I have said time and time again that all of our activities are under the supervision of the agency (including) all future plans for the country's nuclear program," he said in the Press TV report.