Iran said Tuesday that the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant is now 92 percent complete.

Gholamreza Aqazadeh, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO), told reporters in the southern city of Bushehr that the project will gradually become operational during three phases - logistics, nuclear fuel supply and the actual launch.

"We have also begun building a separate 360-megawatt atomic power station," he said, adding that the new atomic power plant will be built with Iranian expertise.

Aqazadeh said that developing nuclear fuel technology has been the IAEO's top priority and that more power stations are to be built in the coming stages.

He said he envisioned no obstacles to making the Bushehr plant completely operational as scheduled provided that the supply of nuclear fuel is secured.

Russia is helping Iran build its first atomic plant but did not deliver nuclear fuel in March as planned because of what it says were delayed payments by Iran. Tehran has repeatedly rejected the allegations, saying it is up to date with its financial commitments.

HRE/MR/HAR