Iran to build 10 new nuclear plants
Updated on 29 November 2009
Iran's parliament approves the building of 10 uranium enrichment plants, days after the UN nuclear watchdog called on it to freeze construction of a plant in Qom.
In a move which can only further strain relations with the west, Iranian state media said work will start on the plants within the next two months.
Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran should aim to produce 250-300 tonnes of nuclear fuel a year and that new, faster centrifuges should be used to reach that target.
He said: "We have a friendly approach towards the world but at the same time we won't let anyone harm even one iota of the Iranian nation's rights.
"We have to reach to a level to produce 250-300 tonnes of nuclear fuel per year and in order to reach this aim we would use new centrifuges with a higher speed."
A senior diplomat close to the IAEA said: "This is the reaction to the resolution which was bound to happen," adding that it is unclear how much of it was bluff or a real plan.
