Russia starts Iran nuclear plant in early '08-Tass

MOSCOW, July 26 (Reuters) Russia will start up Iran's first nuclear power station in early 2008, Itar-Tass news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak as saying today.

In a short dispatch from Azerbaijan's capital Baku, where Kislyak made his remarks, Tass did not give a direct quote.

Kislyak's remarks contradicted a statement by a Russian sub-contractor who said yesterday the Bushehr plant had no chance of being launched before autumn 2008.

The United States has pressed Moscow to halt building the plant because of fears Russian nuclear fuel could aide Iran's nuclear programme, which Washington says is being used as a cover by Tehran for work on atomic weapons.

Start-up of the reactors at the plant could spark a sharp reaction from Washington.

Russia has used the Bushehr nuclear plant as a lever in relations with Tehran which chilled this year after a row over missed payments for building the plant in southwest Iran.

Russia has repeatedly delayed the plant which under the latest schedule was due to be started up in September 2007.

REUTERS PD VV1743