The enrichment of 20 percent uranium is not economical for the country and if Iran receives it from other countries there will be no need for its production, Ahmadinejad said in an interview with the state TV.
Iran needs to continue the production of 3.5 percent enriched uranium for its nuclear power plant and for its research projects, he was quoted as saying.
Iran already said that the country would press on with enriching uranium to 20 percent purity until its nuclear fuel needs were met.
Ahmadinejad said in the interview that Iran has build the plant for the production of 20 percent uranium enrichment but it prefers to buy the rods ready from other sellers since its production is not economical inside the country.
"If we put 100 to 150 kilograms (of high grade enriched fuel) inside Tehran research reactor, it will be enough for its operation for 10 to 15 years," he said.
He added that there is no need to use the high grade enriched uranium on daily basis and Iran has no customers to sell its produced fuel rods, therefore it is not necessary for its plant to work forever.
In June, Iran`s permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, said that Iran had produced over 50 kg 20 percent enriched uranium by then.
Talking to Xinhua on the sidelines of an international nuclear disarmament conference in Tehran, Soltanieh said that "We need 120 kg enrichment up to 20 percent."
Enrichment is at the centre of fears about Iran`s nuclear programme which the West suspects is masking a weapons drive despite Tehran`s denial.
In February 2010, Iran stepped up its uranium enrichment level to 20 percent.
The expanded enrichment work was met with international concerns but Tehran said it needed to make fuel for an aging research reactor.
(Uu.H-AK)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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