TEHRAN -- Iran is installing a new generation of centrifuges with “better quality and speed” at its nuclear facilities, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast announced on Tuesday.

Mehmanparast made the remarks during his weekly press briefing in reply to a question about a Reuters story published on July 15 that said Iran was installing two newer and more advanced models of the centrifuges used to refine uranium for large-scale testing at a research site near the town of Natanz, which is located in central Iran.
The story also quoted an unidentified diplomat from a member state of the International Atomic Energy Agency as saying, “They (the Iranians) are moving forward here.”
“This is slow and steady but notable progress they are making,” the diplomat added.
Mehmanparast said, “By installing the new generation of centrifuges, the country’s progress in regard to its peaceful nuclear activities is being made with more speed and better quality.”
“All Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities are being conducted in cooperation with the IAEA, and all the details have been reported to the agency,” he stated.
Mehmanparast also said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is pushing ahead with its peaceful nuclear activities, regardless of the restrictions and the measures taken to hinder them.”
On June 8, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Director Fereydoun Abbasi Davani said, “Currently, we are working on the new generation of centrifuges, and the research work has been completed, and the first cascades of 164 centrifuges of this generation will be set up at both the Natanz and Fordo enrichment facilities soon.”
Iran has not received Russia’s “step-by-step” proposal
Elsewhere in his remarks, Mehmanparast commented on a Russian proposal for a “step-by-step” approach, made on July 13, according to which Iran could address questions about its nuclear program and be rewarded with a gradual easing of sanctions.
Iran has not received the plan that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had announced, Mehmanparast said, adding, “We will study the initiative when we receive it.”
According to Reuters, the proposal was made after Lavrov held talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington.
Lavrov said Russia had proposed a “phased” process in which Iran would take steps to address the IAEA’s questions.
“The response to each specific step of Iran would be followed by some reciprocal step, like freezing some sanctions and shortening the volume of sanctions,” Lavrov said at a press conference with Clinton.
Suspicious death of News of the World reporter should be investigated
Mehmanparast also commented on the British phone-hacking scandal and the suspicious death of Sean Hoare, the reporter who blew the whistle on widespread phone hacking by the British daily the News of the World.
“We regret the fact that certain countries are using the media to tap citizens’ phone calls, intrude on their privacy, and violate human rights. And unfortunately, these measures have been taken with the support of certain Western countries,” Mehmanparast stated.
He added, “We call on the British government and police authorities to investigate the suspicious death of the reporter and announce (the result) to the people.”
No meeting between Iranian, Saudi officials in the works
Asked about the news reports claiming that the Iranian Embassy in Kuwait is making efforts to arrange a meeting between Iranian and Saudi Arabian officials, Mehmanparast said, “No new measure has been taken appertaining to a trip by our officials to Saudi Arabia, and whenever a decision is made in this regard, it will be announced.