Iran ? Iran’s first nuclear power plant will undergo a critical series of tests starting Wednesday before full-scale operation begins later this year, Iranian state radio reported Sunday.

The plant is a highly symbolic facet of Iran’s controversial nuclear program. Iranian leaders insist the country’s nuclear ambitions are peaceful, but the United States, Israel and some European nations have charged that Iran is trying to produce nuclear weapons.

The long-delayed 1,000-megawatt reactor is being built by the Russian state company Atomstroiexport, which also supplies enriched uranium for the plant’s operation. Iranian and Russian officials will inspect the Bushehr plant before the testing begins.

During what is known as the “virtual fuel-injection test,” all operations at the plant will be checked, state radio reported.

A batch of low-enriched uranium, supplied by Russia and needed to activate the reactor, will not be used during the test.