Iran's plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities are a rational response to world powers trying to resolve the Iran nuclear issue, the country's nuclear chief said on Monday.
Iran's government instructed the country's nuclear organization on Sunday to start building five new plants and outline locations for another five within two months.
"Construction of 10 new uranium enrichment plants in Iran is a strong response to the unfavorable move by the Group 5+1," Ali-Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, was quoted as saying by the news agency IRNA.
The grouping of the five permanent UN Security Council members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany, also known as the Iran Six, has been trying to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment for economic and diplomatic incentives.
Iran's parliament on Sunday demanded that the government reduce cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency following Friday's resolution by the UN nuclear watchdog condemning Iran's work to build a new nuclear power plant.
The IAEA passed on Friday its first resolution since early 2006, censuring Iran for withholding information on its controversial nuclear program, and urging it to freeze construction of its newly revealed uranium enrichment facility in Qom.
The Iranian lawmakers condemned the IAEA resolution and urged the government to quickly draft a plan to reduce cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
Of the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors, 25 countries voted for the resolution, including Germany, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
MOSCOW, November 30 (RIA Novosti)
