The group includes operators of the Busher nuclear power plant, the vice-president of the atomic energy company, Salekh Bekhbudi, who is a permanent representative of this Iranian company in Russia, told Itar-Tass.

According to Bekhbudi, in 2005 the Novovoronezh center will conclude training of engineers for work at the first nuclear power plant of Iran. Over 600 engineers have already undergone training here and a total of over 700 specialists will be trained.

"This is actually all personnel of the station," Bekhbudi said.

After training at the center, the Iranian engineers will also do practical work at Russia's nuclear power plants.

Iranian specialists live in flats in Novovoronezh. Many of them have come to Russia with their families. During their day offs the specialists leave for Voronezh, situated 40 kilometers from Novovoronezh, to visit museums and theaters.

Bekhbudi believes that Iran is interested in continuing cooperation with Russia in the field of building peace atom objects.

"We hope that specialists of other nuclear power plants of Iran will train in Novovoronezh," he stressed.