Iran has carried out the first of a series of tests on its Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant in a step towards its launch.
Iranian officials said they had conducted tests to inject substitute fuel into rods, using lead instead of enriched uranium to simulate nuclear fuel.
The test-run was observed by international journalists and the head of the Russian nuclear agency, Sergei Kiriyenko, who hailed "significant improvements" in Iran's quest to generate nuclear energy.
The test is likely to fuel Western fears over Iran's nuclear ambitions, which Tehran insists are purely for peaceful purposes.
Helen Long reports.
