Iranian state media say Russia has delivered a sixth shipment of nuclear fuel to Iran's first atomic power plant at Bushehr, nearly completing the total fuel shipment to the reactor.

A general view shows the reactor building of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, in southern Iran (File)

Iran's state news agency, IRNA, says 66 out of an expected delivery of 82 tons of fuel have now arrived at the Bushehr plant in southern Iran.

Russia is finishing construction of the Bushehr reactor. Iranian officials say they plan to start running the facility around mid 2008.

The shipment arrived a day after Iranian leaders said they would press on with the country's nuclear program in spite of possible U.N. sanctions.

Earlier this week, Germany and the five permanent U.N. Security Council members (the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China) agreed on the content of a new U.N. sanctions resolution aimed at pressuring Iran to curb its nuclear activities.

U.S. diplomats say the new resolution increases the severity of travel bans and asset freezes already imposed on key Iranians.

The U.N. Security Council has already imposed two sets of sanctions on Iran for its failure to suspend uranium enrichment -- a process that can be used to make nuclear weapons.

The United States and its Western allies accuse Tehran of developing technology to produce nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.