Russia to start Iran nuclear plant in 2010-sources

MOSCOW Nov 30 (Reuters) - Russia plans to start up the nuclear reactor at Iran's Bushehr power plant in March 2010 to coincide with the Iranian New Year, two sources closely involved with the project told Reuters.

The sources, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation, both said that Russia had ordered the plant be ready for operation by Iranian New Year, known as Nowruz, in the second half of March.

"We have been given the task of launching the plant by Iranian New Year," said one of the sources. "There is still a lot of work to do."

Another source confirmed that Russia had ordered the plant to be ready by the Iranian New Year and said that testing work at the plant was going well.

Diplomats say Russia uses Bushehr -- and major arms contracts -- as a lever in relations with Tehran, which is suspected by the United States and other Western powers of seeking to build a nuclear weapon. (Reporting by Moscow bureau, writing by Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Michael Stott) ((guy.faulconbridge@reuters.com, +7 495 775 12 42))