Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Monday said Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant was expected to become fully operational in early August.

However, the minister didn't reveal the specific date of the starting of the plant's commercial operation, only saying the Bushehr will link with Iran's power grid in about one month.

"If this happens in early August it will fully in line with the predictions and expectations of both Russian and Iranian sides," Ryabkov was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

Ryabkov also stressed the construction of the plant was fully in compliance with international norms, saying the operation of the Bushehr would not endanger international stability.

Construction of the Bushehr plant was started 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 and financial challenges and pressure from the United States.