Iran has started building a second atomic power plant, Iran's Ambassador to Russia Gholamreza Ansari was quoted as saying on Friday by Itar-Tass news agency.

"Now we need to think about the fuel for it," Tass quoted him as saying.

Iran has been building its first nuclear power plant near the southern city of Bushehr, where Tehran says test operations could start later this year after final deliveries by Russia of nuclear fuel arrived at the plant last month.

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Western countries suspect Iran's nuclear activities are aimed at weapon building. Iran, the world's fourth-largest crude oil producer, says it only wants to generate electricity so that it can export more of its oil and gas.