Iran plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities during the next Iranian year, its atomic energy chief was quoted as saying, in comments likely to further raise tension with the West.

The announcement by Ali Akbar Salehi on Sunday evening comes after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier in the day instructed Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation to start work on producing higher-grade nuclear fuel for a research reactor.  

 

"Iran will set up 10 uranium enrichment centres next year", Al Alam state television quoted Salehi as saying on its website. The Iranian year starts on March 21.