Iran transferring centrifuges to bunker

TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Iran is transferring centrifuges from its Natanz nuclear facility to the Fordow nuclear enrichment plant in the north, the country's atomic energy chief said.

The centrifuges are being taken to an underground bunker at the recently constructed plant, Britain's Telegraph reported.

"Transferring the centrifuges of the Natanz site to Fordow is under way with full observance of standards," Fereydoun Abbasi-Divani, head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization, was quoted as saying by IRIB (Iran broadcasting), Press TV and the semi-official Fars news agency reported Monday.

Abbasi-Divani said Sunday some centrifuges have already reached the Fordow plant, the country's second largest enrichment site, located near the northern city of Qom.

In June, he announced plans to transfer 20 percent of the country's uranium enrichment to the Fordow plant.

The British daily said since Iran raised the level of enrichment to 20 percent last year it has produced 125 pounds ( 56.7 kilograms), about half the amount needed for a weapon.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the International Atomic Energy Agency was informed of the transfer of nuclear activities to the Fordow plant, IRIB said.