TEHRAN - Iran and Russia signed a nuclear cooperation protocol on Monday following the preliminary launch of Bushehr nuclear power plant in the southern part of the country, the local satellite Press TV reported.

The protocol calls for measures to maximize the safety level of the Bushehr plant and Russia's complete nuclear cooperation with Iran even after the country's first nuclear plant becomes fully operational, the report said.

The document was inked between Deputy Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Mohammad Ahmadian and Head of Russia's Atomstroyexport Alexander Glukhov on Monday, according to the report.

Atomstroyexport is a leading engineering company and a subsidiary of Russia's state-owned atomic energy corporation, Rosatom, which constructs nuclear power facilities abroad.

Iran held a ceremony on Monday to mark the preliminary launch of the long-delayed Bushehr nuclear power plant in which high- ranking Iranian and Russian officials participated.