Iran will start production of 20%-enriched nuclear fuel at the Natanz nuclear plant on Tuesday afternoon, the Fars news agency said, citing an Iranian nuclear official.

"The head of the Iranian nuclear agency, Ali Akbar Salehi will announce the start of the operation at one o'clock in the afternoon [09:30 GMT] in the presence of International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] representatives," Ali Shirzadian, a spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, was quoted as saying by the Iranian agency.

Iran notified the UN nuclear watchdog of plans to produce higher enriched uranium on Monday, saying it could not wait any longer to reach an agreement on international processing of its uranium for a reactor in Tehran.

Iran's announcement could spur the UN Security Council to agree on a fourth set of sanctions over its nuclear activities, which Western powers fear are aimed at building weapons.

However, Iran has repeatedly said that any attempt by the West to impose new UN Security Council resolutions would not have any effect on Tehran's drive to develop its civilian nuclear program.

MOSCOW, February 9 (RIA Novosti)