Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman says the Islamic Republic’s first nuclear power plant will be launched without delay

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says the Islamic Republic's first nuclear power plant located in the country's southern city of Bushehr will be launched without delay.

Speaking at his weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Mehmanparast said, “There will be no delay in launching the Bushehr power plant,” adding that the plant is on the course of being launched, IRNA reported. He further expressed hope that the plant would soon join the country's national power grid.

Mehmanparast also referred to an upcoming visit to Iran by Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, describing it as a part of constant negotiations between Tehran and Moscow.

“Various issues including bilateral ties and regional developments will be discussed during the visit,” he said, adding that Iran's peaceful nuclear program will possibly be discussed with the Russian official, too.

Mehmanparast also noted that the Islamic Republic is still receiving the details of Russia's “step-by-step” proposal regarding Iran's nuclear program and that Iranian officials are negotiating the plan.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterated Tehran's determination to pursue its civilian nuclear activities that are “carried out based on mutual commitments between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”

On July 13, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed a new “step-by-step” approach toward Iran's nuclear program that would enable Tehran to take steps in order to address questions raised by the IAEA.