"Fuel pellets to be used for the 40-megawatt research reactor in Arak (in central Iran) have been produced," Gholamreza Aghazadeh, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, was quoted as saying.

The Fuel Manufacturing Plant (FMP) in Isfahan, central Iran, would be able to provide fuel for the Arak research reactor in the first half of next Iranian year (from March 21 to Sept 22, 2008), Aghazadeh, who is also Iran's vice president, told IRNA.

Iranian experts were testing the fuel pellets and the fuel rods produced at its nuclear fuel production facilities in Isfahan, the Iranian official said.

Iran has long been working on its uranium enrichment capability to fuel its developing nuclear power program, including the 40-megawatt heavy water nuclear reactor under construction in Arak.

The United States and some other Western countries fear Iran may try to develop atomic bombs under a civilian cover, however Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

The UN Security Council has already issued two sanction resolutions against Iran's nuclear program since last December, but both of them failed to persuade the Islamic Republic to give up uranium enrichment work.


Agencies

Güncelleme Tarihi: 25 Kasım 2007, 16:39