The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's official IRNA news agency says the government now has nearly 4,000 centrifuges operating in its uranium enrichment plant.

IRNA also quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Reza Sheikh Attar as saying Iran is installing 3,000 more centrifuges at the plant in Natanz.

Iran says it plans to move toward large-scale uranium enrichment that will ultimately involve 54,000 centrifuges.

The U.S. and its allies have been demanding a halt to Iran's uranium enrichment — something Tehran has repeatedly refused to do.

Washington accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran says its nuclear program is geared merely toward generating electricity.

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