Tension after Iran nuclear breakthrough

A war of words has broken out between Israel and Iran after the Islamic Republic began loading fuel into its first nuclear power plant.

Television showed live pictures of Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi and his Russian counterpart watching a fuel rod assembly being prepared for insertion into the reactor near the Gulf city of Bushehr.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yossi Levy said: "It is totally unacceptable that a country that so blatantly violates (international treaties) should enjoy the fruits of using nuclear energy." Israel's stance has raised concerns it could attack Iran's nuclear sites.

But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said: "Even the most foolish politicians know that aggression against Iran would be suicidal. They know if anyone should want to attack Iran the confines of our reaction would not be limited to any specific area and that the entire world would be the battlefield."

Russia designed and built the plant and will supply fuel. To ease nuclear proliferation concerns, it will take back spent rods that could be used to make weapons-grade plutonium.

Washington has criticised Moscow for pushing ahead with Bushehr despite Iranian defiance over its nuclear programme. But the US State Department said Washington did not view the reactor as a proliferation risk, partly because of Russia's role in providing fuel and taking back spent rods.

Mr Ahmadinejad chose Saturday to tell a meeting of university professors of plans to put satellites in orbit, using long-range ballistic technology that can also be used to launch warheads.