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In a possible setback to its nuclear program, Iran is unloading fuel assemblies from the reactor at a plant already plagued by delays, according to a report issued Friday by the global nuclear watchdog agency.

The Russian-built plant in the Persian Gulf city Bushehr was expected to produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity and was considered a showcase for nuclear power to be used for civilian purposes in Iran. It was supposed to be operational by the first quarter of this year.

Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), however, said the fuel removal was temporary.

"Upon Russia's request fuel will be removed from the core of the reactor in order to conduct a number of tests and [carry out] technical work," Ali Asghar Soltanieh told the semi-official Islamic Students News Agency on Saturday. "After the tests are conducted, (the fuel) will be placed in the core of the reactor once again."

He said Russia is responsible for completing the plant in accordance with highest safety standards.

Iran began loading fuel into the core of the Bushehr reactor in October after it was launched in August. That came after more than three decades of delays.

Construction started in 1975 when Germany signed a contract with Iran. But Germany pulled out of the project after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran then signed a deal with Russia in 1995, under which the plant was scheduled to be completed in 1999, but the project was repeatedly delayed.

Iran notified the IAEA of the fuel removal since the Bushehr facility operates under the agency's supervision.

The United States and other global powers question Iran's claim that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

The IAEA report Friday raised new concerns about the intent of Iran's nuclear program, discussing possible nuclear activities tied to Iran's military "including activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile."

Washington, however, has said it was not as concerned with the Bushehr plant.

"Our problem is not with their reactor at Bushehr," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in October. "Our problem is with their facilities at places like Natanz and their secret facility at Qom and other places where we believe they are conducting their weapons program."