Iran to enrich 100 kg uranium before new talks

Iran has stored 100 kg of enriched uranium material, its interior minister was quoted as saying, in comments that may worry Western powers who suspect the Islamic Republic of seeking to build nuclear bombs.

But a senior Iranian nuclear official cast doubt on the information. "The figures are not correct," the official, who declined to be named, said.

Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi made his comment ahead of sensitive talks on Iran's nuclear programme between Iran's top negotiator and the UN atomic watchdog director and the European Union's foreign policy chief.

Iran has refused UN demands to halt enrichment, a process that yields fuel for nuclear power plants but can also provide material for weapons if the uranium is refined to a much higher degree. Tehran says its goal is purely peaceful electricity.

The IAEA is also concerned about Iranian cutbacks in the access given to agency inspectors.