"We have put forward a proposal to Russia... Moscow is studying the proposal now," Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), was quoted by Iran Press TV as saying.

Fuel was loaded into the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on August 21 but Iran says it will continue uranium enrichment since it cannot depend on foreign sources forever to get the required fuel.

"Suppose we receive the required nuclear fuel for the plant from the Russians for the next ten years, what are we going to do for the next 30 to 50 years?" Salehi said before the Bushehr plant was launched.

Western powers suspect Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons under the guise of its nuclear program, which Tehran says is aimed at the peaceful generation of civilian energy.

On June 9, 2010, the UN Security Council approved a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, including tougher financial controls and an expanded arms embargo, as well as an asset ban on three dozen companies and a travel freeze on individuals.

Later, the United States and the European Union imposed extra sanctions against Iran, including tougher restrictions on the energy sector and a tougher trade embargo.

The construction of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant has not been affected by the sanctions.