Iran plans to build new nuclear facilities

Amid stepped up efforts by the US and its allies to rally international support for imposing tougher sanctions against Iran, a top official in Tehran declares plans to construct new nuclear facilities.

"We have presented plans to build new nuclear facilities to President [Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]. We will begin the construction process within the next six months, should the president agree," head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi told the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) on Saturday.

"The organization will finalize the construction of one or two nuclear facilities," he added.

"The facilities are located in different locations across the country but will be constructed in places recommended by President Ahmadinejad," the top Iranian nuclear official was quoted by ILNA as saying.

Iran says its nuclear program is directed at the civilian applications of the technology. The West, however, accuses the country of using its activities, which are under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as a cover for pursuing military objectives.

Based on the allegation, Washington has been pushing to impose a fourth round of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against Iran.

As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran says it will not yield to international pressure to abandon its right to enrich uranium for civilian use. The sanctions, which Iran says are illegal, have failed to force Tehran into stopping its enrichment work.

The White House campaign, however, has been opposed by China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the UNSC, which says dialogue is the only solution to the issue. Russia, another veto-wielding member, says sanctions are not "optimal" in dealing with Iran over its nuclear program.

Salehi highlighted plans by the Iranian government to develop an indigenous nuclear energy program and said, "Plans for construction of more nuclear facilities will be announced in the near future."

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122361§ionid=351020104.