Iran installs 7,000 centrifuges at Natanz

TEHRAN, April 9 (UPI) -- Iran announced Thursday on the occasion of National Nuclear Day that it installed and started 7,000 uranium centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear facility.

Iranian officials had boasted of the announcement Wednesday, saying a major unveiling was expected.

Atomic energy officials had said in early February they would install thousands of additional centrifuges at Natanz, noting Iran had "neither slowed down nor stepped up our work there."

The latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had slowed its uranium enrichment activity, though the intent of the Iranian nuclear program was unclear.

Meanwhile, Iran's Press TV reports Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the first-ever fuel manufacturing plant at a nuclear facility in Isfahan.

Iran said the manufacturing plant will have the capability of producing some 30 tons of 5-percent enriched uranium for light-water nuclear reactors at Isfahan.

The Iranian media reports said the inauguration points to Iran's "mastery" of the final stages of nuclear-fuel production.

Iran is under punitive economic sanctions for its nuclear program, which Tehran insists is for civilian energy production.