Iran vows to expand nuclear plans

Story Highlights

• Iran planning to expand nuclear program, atomic energy head says
• Infrastructure at Natanz nuclear facility for 50,000 centrifuges, Aghazadeh says
• Iran has reached "industrial level" nuclear production, Ahmadinejad says
• IAEA says it cannot confirm Iran's nuclear activities for peaceful purposes

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TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- A day after Iran announced it had begun production of nuclear fuel on an "industrial level," the head of the country's atomic energy organization said Iran had plans to greatly expand its nuclear program.

"Iran's uranium enrichment program in Natanz does not only aim to install 3,000 centrifuges, but 50,000 centrifuges," Iran's Atomic Energy Organization chief, Gholam Reza Aghazadeh said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. Centrifuges are used in the process of enriching uranium.

The Natanz nuclear facility is located in central Iran, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of Tehran.

Iranian plans to expand its enrichment process to 50,000 centrifuges goes well beyond any previously announced aspirations by Tehran.

"I did not want to create any uncertainty about the nuclear program," Aghazadeh said. "But it is a fact that all of our infrastructure (in Natanz) ... is planned for 50,000 centrifuges."

According to Aghazadeh, Iran's Atomic Energy Organization "intends to develop, optimize and update nuclear technology in the future," including an international tender for construction of two 1,000-megawatt power plants, which he said will be announced in the coming days.

On Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced his country has begun production of nuclear fuel on an "industrial level." (Timeline: Iran's nuclear program)

"Iran has succeeded in development to attain production at an industrial level," Ahmadinejad said in a speech at Natanz to mark the anniversary of the start of uranium enrichment at the plant.

"With great pride, I announce that as of today, our dear country, Iran, is among the countries of the world that produces the industrial level of nuclear fuel."

He vowed the fuel would be used for energy "and for the expansion of peace and stability," adding that the goal of "progress" for Iran was "irreversible."

Ahmadinejad's speech came on what Iran called its National Nuclear Feast, designed to send a message to the world that the nation would not halt its nuclear activities despite calls for it to do so from many Western governments, particularly the United States, and sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council.

The IAEA -- the U.N. nuclear watchdog -- has said it cannot confirm Iran's nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. IAEA officials say Iran has failed to cooperate with inspectors. (Watch the 'concerned' reaction to Iran's nuclear news )

But Ahmadinejad said Monday there had been "no evidence of violation in our activities."

"Despite the cooperation of our country and its transparency, despite the fact that our measures are legal, we have witnessed controversy created by some powers who benefit from the nuclear fuel cycle themselves," he said.

He committed much of his speech to slamming the "enemies" of Iran, who he said didn't want to see it make "progress."

"They have even resorted to the Security Council and tried to turn it into a tool to prevent the nuclear development of the Islamic Republic of Iran."