TEHRAN, January 22 (RIA Novosti) - Iran is continuing to build uranium enrichment centrifuges under IAEA monitoring and in compliance with its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the country's foreign minister said Monday.
"The assembly of centrifuges for uranium enrichment under Iran's peaceful nuclear program is continuing. The entire nuclear program is monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency," Manouchehr Mottaki said.
Iran has been at the center of international concerns since January 2006 over its nuclear program, which some countries suspect is geared toward nuclear weapons development. Tehran has consistently denied the claims, and says it needs nuclear power for civilian purposes.
The minister did not specify exactly how many new centrifuges Tehran intends to build, but said information would soon be disclosed by IAEA representatives.
Tehran said earlier today it had refused 38 experts from the UN nuclear watchdog permission to inspect the country's nuclear facilities, in retaliation against sanctions against Iran ordered by a UN Security Council resolution passed a month ago.
The resolution banned activities involving uranium enrichment, chemical reprocessing, heavy water-based projects, and production of nuclear weapons delivery systems.
Speaking in parliament last week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the nuclear program would continue regardless of any resolutions against it.
"Even if the UN Security Council adopts a dozen resolutions, it will not keep us from exercising our legitimate right to peaceful nuclear energy."
