TEHRAN, October 28 (RIA Novosti) - Iran officially confirmed Saturday the launch of a second cascade of gas centrifuges to enrich uranium.
"The second cascade of 164 centrifuges was launched two weeks ago, and we have already received the result of its work [enriched uranium]," the country's government newspaper quoted a deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran as saying.
Mohammad Ghannad said uranium is enriched to 3-5%.
On Friday, Russia's defense minister, Sergei Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister, dismissed fears that Iran could acquire weapons-grade uranium.
"I do not share those fears, because I know the situation," Ivanov said. "Iran has launched a second cascade of centrifuges, and this process is fully controlled by the IAEA."
Iran has been at the center of an international dispute this year over its nuclear ambitions. Some countries suspect the Islamic Republic of pursuing a covert weapons program, but Tehran has consistently denied the claims and says it needs nuclear energy for civilian needs.
Russia's nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly Atomstroiexport is building Bushehr's first power unit under a $1 billion contract signed by Russia and Iran in 1995. The NPP, which is being constructed under the supervision of the IAEA, was originally scheduled for commissioning at the end of 2006.
Russia's nuclear chief Sergei Kiriyenko said last month the Bushehr NPP will be commissioned in September 2007, and that power generation will begin two months later. In September 2006, Russia agreed to supply fuel for the plant in March 2007, in time for its commissioning.
