TEHRAN, November 14 (RIA Novosti) - Iran is planning to create 60,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges, the Iranian president said Tuesday.

Iran has been at the center of an international dispute over its nuclear ambitions. Some countries suspect the Islamic republic is pursuing nuclear weapons, but Tehran has consistently denied the claims, saying it needs nuclear energy for civilian purposes.

"We are striving to acquire nuclear fuel, so we need to put into operation 60,000 centrifuges," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.

Washington has been pushing for tough international sanctions against Iran for its refusal to halt nuclear enrichment activities, but Iran insists it only wants nuclear-generated electricity.

"It is necessary to continue our effort to create nuclear fuel to meet the needs of at least one power plant," he told a news conference.