Teheran tests its first nuclear power plant

Iranian and Russian officials are conducting a test run of Iran's first nuclear power plant, officials said yesterday, a major step toward launching full operations at the facility.

At the same time, Iran claimed another advance in its nuclear program: The number of centrifuges carrying out uranium enrichment had increased to 6,000, the country's nuclear chief said - up from 5,000 in November.

His announcement was the latest defiance of UN demands that Teheran suspend its enrichment program because of fears it could be used to produce material for a warhead.