Iran tested its first nuclear power plant Wednesday, a stride that prompted one Iranian technician to declare it was "independence day" for the Islamic republic. Tests were carried out at the Bushehr nuclear power plant using “dummy” fuel rods, loaded with lead in place of enriched uranium to simulate nuclear fuel. In a news release distributed to reporters at the scene, officials said the test measured the “pressure, temperature and flow rate” of the facility to make sure they were at appropriate levels
