Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 13 /Trend S.Isayev, T. Jafarov/
Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) Fereydoun Abbasi Davani confirmed that Iran has started installing new generation centrifuges into the Natanz nuclear research plant, ISNA reported.
Abbasi noted that previously, Natanz nuclear plant had old first-generation centrifuges installed, and now they are being substituted by fifth-generation models.
He said that new centrifuges are used for enrichment of uranium up to 5 percent.
Abbasi said that the centrifuges were installed at the plant a month ago, adding that the new ones of the fifth generation will first undergo a series of tests at the plant, before they can be mass-produced at the new production facility.
Speaking of the new centrifuges, Abbasi said the fifth-generation centrifuges are more stable, with better rotors.
With regard to the 20-percent enriched uranium, Abbasi said that converting uranium to powder does not mean Iran is stepping back from its goals.
"Iran follows its own goals," Abbasi stated. "We were saying it all along that we need fuel for nuclear reactor, because the Western countries denied to give it to us. We do not need it for any other purpose."
Iran today started the nuclear negotiations with the IAEA, Iran state TV website IRIB News reported.
IAEA delegation, headed by the international body's Deputy Director General And Chief Inspector, Herman Nackaerts, arrived in the Iranian capital, Tehran, last night.
Nackaerts and his team is scheduled to hold talks with Iranian nuclear officials later on Wednesday and press for access to suspect documents, nuclear officials and especially the Parchin military base, where nuclear weapons parts have allegedly been tested
Tehran said Tuesday a visit to the Parchin base near Tehran by the IAEA would be possible if the country's right to a civilian nuclear programme were acknowledged.
In a series of meetings over the past year, both sides have been unable to agree on the conditions under which such investigations would go forward.