Iran’s Bushehr nuclear reactor has been started at the minimum controllable level, which will be followed by more tests before full operation begins, said ZAO Atomstroyexport, the atomic power plant building unit of Russia’s Rosatom Corp. holding.

Iran’s first nuclear power plant, being built by the Russian company in the southern city of Bushehr, initiated the fission process, or criticality, which allows the atoms to split by themselves in a reaction without interference from operators, Atomstroyexport said in an e-mailed statement on Tuesday.
The Russian builder plans to further test the reactor to ensure its safety, including educating personnel to operate the power unit, according to the statement.
(Source: Bloomberg)