Iran Gives Conflicting Reports Of Nuclear Work

Iran's uranium-enrichment complex at Natanz (file photo) (epa) January 27, 2007 -- An Iranian nuclear official denied a statement by a Tehran parliamentarian today that Iran had begun installing 3,000 new centrifuges for the purpose of uranium enrichment.

The official IRNA news agency quoted Hossein Cimorgh, a public relations director of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, as making the denial.

The denial came shortly after IRNA quoted parliamentary official Allaedin Boroudjerdi as saying Iran had started to install the centrifuges.

Iran has long said it intends to install centrifuges for the purpose of enriching uranium.

The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on Iran for its refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment.

Uranium enrichment is a process that produces fuel for civilian nuclear reactors. Highly enriched uranium can also be used in atomic weapons.

(AFP, Reuters)