Sergei Novikov, a spokesman for the agency, said Kirienko would visit Iran’s Bushehr power plant, which is currently in the final phase of construction by Russian specialists.

He added that during the agency head’s visit, the two sides will establish a final timetable for assembly operation and discuss preparations for the Bushehr nuclear reactor. The source said Russia hopes the first phase of the Bushehr power plant in southern Iran can be inaugurated by 2006.

The new head of the Russian nuclear agency had announced that timely completion of the power plant was among the priorities of bilateral relations with Iran. Kirienko, who is also the Russian head of the Iran-Russia Joint Economic and Technical Commission, has also expressed his country’s readiness to hold the commission’s next session in Tehran.