MOSCOW (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday formally announced the inauguration of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant (NPP), saying it will increase international trust in Iran's nuclear program. 

The operation of the plant would be conducted under strict supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and according to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the ministry said in a statement. 

"Bushehr plant became not only a symbol of friendship and cooperation between our countries, but also a progress in Iran's peaceful atomic program," the ministry said. 

It will facilitate and further strengthen the Russian-Iranian strategic partnership in various areas as well as greater international trust in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, the ministry added. 

According to the ministry, all used nuclear fuel would be shipped back to Russia under the IAEA control. 

The inauguration ceremony in Tehran was attended by Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko and Head of the Russian State Atomic Agency Rosatom Sergei Kiriyenko, the ministry said. 

The construction of the Bushehr plant began in 1975 by several German companies. However, work halted when the United States imposed an embargo on hi-tech supplies to Iran after the 1979 revolution. 

Russia signed a contract with Iran to complete the construction in 1998. 

Completion of the plant's construction was postponed several times by mounting technical challenges and pressure from Washington.