Iran says can make own nuclear fuel plates, rods

A picture taken on April 9, 2009 shows a fuel manufacturing plant in the central Iranian province of Isfahan. Atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi declared in a report on January 8, 2011 that Iran is capable of making its own nuclear fuel plates and rods at an Isfahan advanced manufacturing unit, technology the West says the Islamic republic does not possess. AFP Photo

TEHRAN: Atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi declared in a report Saturday that Iran is now capable of making its own nuclear fuel plates and rods, technology the West says the Islamic republic does not possess.

Salehi, the driving force behind Irans contentious atomic programme, said the country has completed the construction of a facility in the central city of Isfahan to the fuel plates and rods which power nuclear reactors.

We have built an advanced manufacturing unit in the Isfahan site for the fuel plates, Salehi, who is also acting foreign minister, told Fars news agency in what was said to be an exclusive interview.

A grand transformation has taken place in the production of (nuclear) plates and rods. With the completion of the unit in Isfahan, we are one of the few countries which can produce fuel rods and fuel plates.Salehi said it was the Western policies towards the Islamic republic which had propelled its nuclear achievements, including the making of nuclear plates and rods.

This is in fact because of Wests actions that we came to this point, he said.

What we say is based on reality and truth. There is no exaggeration or deception in our work. It is them who do not want to believe that Iran has no intention, but to obtain nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.The West led by the United States suspects that Irans nuclear programme masks a weapons drive, a charge Tehran vehemently denies.

On Novem! ber 23, Salehi had told state news agency IRNA that Iran would produce the nuclear fuel required for a research reactor in Tehran by September 2011.

By the month of Shahrivar next year (September 2011), we will produce fuel for the reactor, said Salehi, who is also one of Irans vice presidents.

Western powers have repeatedly said Iran does not possess the technology to make the actual nuclear fuel plates required to power the Tehran research reactor which makes medical isotopes.

In February 2010, Iran started refining uranium to 20 per cent with the purpose of using it to make the plates that could power the reactor.

That came amid a deadlock with world powers over a nuclear fuel swap deal drafted by the UN atomic watchdog and aimed at providing fuel for the research unit.

Salehi told Fars Iran has now produced nearly 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of uranium enriched to the 20-per cent level, despite Western calls for Tehran to suspend the work.

We have nearly 40 kilograms of 20-per cent enriched uranium, he said in the interview.

The Islamic republic is under four sets of UN Security Council sanctions over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, the process at the centre of fears about Irans atomic work.

Enriched uranium can be used as fuel to power nuclear reactors as well as to make the fissile core of an atom bomb.

Salehis latest declaration comes ahead of the next round of talks in Istanbul between Iran and the six world powers over Tehrans nuclear programme.

On Friday, an aide to European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the talks could resume from January 20.

Its a tentative date were looking at We have positive feedback from Iran, Ashtons spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told AFP, adding the talks were expected to last one and half days.

A previous round of talks between Iran and six world powers Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany spearheaded by Ashton, took place in Geneva on December 6-7.

Th! at round followed a 14-month hiatus in the talks on Irans nuclear programme.