The physical launch of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran has begun, the head of the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) said on Saturday.

"Today we begin the physical launch of the nuclear power plant in Bushehr," Sergei Kiriyenko told a launch ceremony.

The project of the Bushehr nuclear power plant is unique, Kiriyenko said.

"The construction of the plant began in 1974. The uniqueness of the project consists in the fact that specialists succeeded in building the plant on the old foundations... laid down by a German company more than 30 years previously," he said.

Kiriyenko said the energy launch of the plant will take place before the end of the year.

Ali Akbar Salehi, Director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), described the day as "historic." He expressed his gratitude to Russia for its help in building the plant.

Russia has said that all the fuel for Bushehr will be supplied by Russia and all the spent fuel will be returned to Russia.

The fuel deal made the project acceptable to Washington and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier this week that the Bushehr plant contributes to the nonproliferation regime.

The construction of Iran's first nuclear plant was begun in 1975 by several German construction companies. They pulled out following a U.S. embargo on hi-tech supplies to Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the subsequent U.S. Embassy siege in Tehran.

Russia signed a contract with Iran to complete construction in February 1998.

Western powers suspect Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons under the guise of its nuclear program, a charge Tehran strongly denies, saying the program is aimed at the peaceful generation of civilian energy.

On June 9, 2010, the UN Security Council approved a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, including tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo, as well as an asset ban on three dozen companies and a travel freeze on individuals.

Later, the United States and the European Union imposed extra sanctions against Iran, including tougher restrictions on the energy sector and a tougher trade embargo.

The construction of the Bushehr facility was not affected by the sanctions.

BUSHEHR (Iran), August 21 (RIA Novosti)