The Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation on Sunday denied that installation had begun of 3,000 centrifuges to enrich uranium under its disputed nuclear programme, state media said. "No new centrifuge machines have been installed in the Natanz facility," Hossein Cimorgh, public relations director of the organisation, was quoted as saying by IRNA news agency. He was speaking in response to an earlier statement by the head of parliament's foreign affairs and national security commission, Alaeddin Borujerdi, who said: "We are now installing the 3,000 centrifuges," according to IRNA. "God willing it will be finished in due time," the official said, without giving details on the work which is scheduled to be completed by the end of March.
The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions to pressure Iran to stop uranium enrichment, which makes fuel for civilian nuclear reactors but also the explosive core of atom bombs. Tehran says its nuclear programme is a peaceful effort to generate electricity but the united states claims the Islamic republic is hiding work on developing atomic weapons.