Iran has received the seventh shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia on Saturday for its first nuclear power plant being built at the Gulf port of Bushehr, the official IRNA reported.

The new consignment contained 11 tons of enriched uranium, Iran Atomic Energy Production and Development Company, was quoted as saying by the report.

He said that the rest nuclear fuel will be received on schedule.

So far 77 tons of total 82 tons of the needed fuel for primary stage of commissioning of the Bushehr nuclear power plant have been received since last December 17, the company added.

According to the agreement between the two countries, Russia would deliver the 82 tons of nuclear fuel to Iran in eight consignments in two months.

Located in southwestern Iran, Bushehr is the country's first nuclear power station, but work at the plant has been long delayed for the disputes over the construction payment erupted between Iran and Russia.

Iran has said it would put Bushehr power plant into use with its half capacity in the summer of 2008, but the Russian contractor Atomostroiexport said last December that it would take at least one year to start the operation of the power plant.

The United States and some of its allies have worried Iran may use power plant as a civilian cover to develop atomic weapons and called on Russia to suspend the Bushehr project.

Russian Foreign Ministry, however, has promised that those fuel will be under control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying all fuel to be delivered "will be under control and guarantees of the IAEA for the whole time it stays on Iranian territory."

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2008)