The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed Iran�s plans for the production of metal uranium with the aim of producing a new fuel for a research reactor. �







�(International Atomic Energy Agency) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi today informed IAEA Member States about recent developments regarding Iran�s plans to conduct R&D activities on uranium metal production as part of its declared aim to design an improved type of fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor,� the IAEA said in a statement, Reuters reported.

Iran told the agency on Wednesday�that �there is no limitation on (its) R&D activities� and �modification and installation of the relevant equipment for the mentioned R&D activities have been already started� at its Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant in Isfahan, the IAEA report said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iran�s permanent ambassador to the International Organizations in Vienna Kazem Gharibabadi said that the Islamic Republic has initiated the development of new fuel for the Tehran reactor.

�This activity is carried out in three stages, and in the first stage, metal uranium is produced using natural uranium,� he said, adding that the Director-General of the IAEA published a report on Wednesday and informed the member countries about the matter.

�This measure will technically place Iran among the leading countries in the production of new fuels,� he maintained.

Gharibabadi went on to say that all these steps have been notified to the Agency and the IAEA's inspectors have also visited the fuel plate factory three days ago.