Quake near Iran nuclear plant kills seven

Seven people have died and 30 have been injured after a quake struck Iran, 60km from Bushehr, where the country has its Russian-built reactor.

(File: AAP)

At least seven people have died after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Gulf coast near Iran's sole nuclear power plant.

Emergency response chief Hassan Qadami has told state media that 30 people have also been injured.

"So far, there are seven dead and 30 injured receiving hospital treatment," the official IRNA news agency quoted Qadami as saying.

The quake's epicentre was near Borazjan, about 60km from Bushehr, where Iran has its Russian-built reactor.

Iran stands on several seismic fault lines.

A massive quake in December 2003 struck the southern city of Bam, killing 26,000 people and destroying its ancient mud-built citadel.

Iran's Arab neighbours across the Gulf have often raised concern over the reliability of the Bushehr plant and the risks of radioactive leaks in case of a major quake.

But Iran and Russia insist it respects international standards under the supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog.