国际英语新闻：Iran starts loading fuel to power plant, vows nuclear programs with "high speed"

Despite the sanctions against Iran, "we are now seeing the startup of the nuclear power plant," he said.

This is a "direct lesson" to those who wanted to hinder Iran's progress by imposing sanctions, he stressed.

On Saturday, Iran and Russia signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on nuclear cooperation in the presence of Sergei Kiriyenko and Ali-Akbar Salehi.

On the basis of the agreement, the two sides agreed to establish a joint company to observe the safe use of the facilities in Bushehr power plant.

They also agreed to recognize Bushehr establishments as unclear facilities from the load of fuel, starting from Aug. 21 to the launch of the facility which will almost last for two months. Both side will take necessary measures before the launch of the plant.

According to earlier reports, 163 fuel rods will be transferred into the core of the reactor by Sept. 5 after the required inspections.

Rosatom corporation had announced that Russia is set to activate the reactor at Bushehr nuclear power plant on Aug. 21.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesmen Ramin Mehmanparast told IRNA on Saturday that launching of Bushehr nuclear power plant indicates that Iran will pursue its "next peaceful nuclear programs with high speed."

Mehmanparast said that loading fuel into Bushehr power plant and its connection with the country's main electric circuit will mark a great step towards launching nuclear installations in Iran.

"Iran will accelerate the implementation of its upcoming ( nuclear) programs," Mehmanparast was quoted as saying.

Loading Bushehr power plant with fuel is the outcome of the country's planning to take the advantage of peaceful nuclear technology for progress, he said.

"The completion of Bushehr power plant reveals the fact that we are both committed to the IAEA Safeguards Agreement and are serious in peaceful use of nuclear technology," he added.

In the first reaction to Iran's nuclear power plant fuel load, the U.S. State Department said Saturday that Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant has "no proliferation threat."

The department also said the plant showed that Iran does not need to be able to enrich nuclear fuel by itself, according to news reports in the United States.

Western powers suspect Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons despite Tehran's claims that it will be used only for generation of civilian energy.