Iranian nuclear chief says new uranium enrichment technology ready by 2011

Iran is producing new generations of uranium enrichment centrifuges and plans to use them by March 2011, the head of the country’s Atomic Energy Organization told the ‘Fars’ news agency on Friday. "We are producing a new generation of centrifuges named IR3 and IR4 ... We plan to use them by 2011 after eliminating problems and defects," Ali Akbar Salehi said. "We have over 6,000 active centrifuges."

He added that Japan is ready to cooperate with Iran in nuclear technology. "During his Japan visit, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council of Iran Saeed Jalili discussed this issue with the Japanese side," he added.

‘Fars’ also reported that Salehi’s deputy, Mohammad Saeidi had resigned from the organization. A member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team for several years, Saeidi has been known as a technocrat and a supporter of a diplomatic settlement of the nuclear dispute with the West.