Iranian nuclear official confirms construction of new enrichment plant

TEHRAN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi on Friday confirmed that Iran is building a new nuclear fuel enrichment plant, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has achieved a successful new step on the way of preserving and enjoying its undeniable right for peaceful use of nuclear energy," Salehi was quoted as saying in a statement, adding "Iran has started building a semi-industrial plant for enriching nuclear fuel."

"Activities of this plant will be in the framework of the regulations of the (International Atomic Energy) Agency," he added.

This was the first official confirmation from Tehran after reports came earlier on Friday that Iran has informed the IAEA that it is constructing a new plant for nuclear fuel enrichment.

"I can confirm that on Sept. 21, Iran informed the IAEA in a letter that a new pilot fuel enrichment plant is under construction in the country," IAEA spokesman Marc Vidricaire was quoted as saying by Iran's English-language Press TV.

According to the spokesman, the letter underlined that the enrichment level in the plant would only be up to 5 percent.

"Iran has assured the agency in the letter that further complementary information will be provided in an appropriate and due time," Vidricaire added.

In reaction, the IAEA has requested that the Tehran government provide detailed information and access to the new nuclear facility as soon as possible.