Iran plans to produce 20% enriched uranium at Natanz site: Salehi

Tehran, Feb 8, IRNA -- Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi said on Sunday that Iran planned to produce 20 percent enriched uranium at Natanz nuclear site.

Speaking to IRNA, he said Iran is capable to produce 20 percent enriched uranium with Laser technology but it has no plans to do so.

He said that Iran will not produce 20% enriched uranium with laser technology adding that the news agencies have misquoted Iranian president about a decision to enrich 20 percent uranium with laser which is not right.

Iranian president has explained the capabilities of laser in various fields such as enrichment of uranium which does not mean that the country is to do it.

Iranian president has instructed the AEOI to initiate a plan to enrich uranium 20 percent, he said adding that currently negotiations are underway between Iranian president and some countries on swap deal.

Iranian president has underlined that the main focus has been the swap deal and that Iran never accepts any new precondition to this end.

Iranian president has instructed the AEOI to start production of 20 percent enriched uranium if talks on swap deal fail.

Production of 20 percent enriched uranium will be handled at Natanz nuclear site in due course, he said.

As soon as the Iranian president declares that talks on swap deal is over, and upon direct order from president the operation will start at Natanz site, he added.

The fact is that the president aimed to help western countries get rid of the current stalemate created by themselves through fabricated documentations, Salehi said.

Iranian president has underlined that Iran still remains committed to the fuel swap deal, Salehi said./end