Lawmaker Says Iran Halted 20-Percent Uranium Enrichment

Iranian state television showed these centrifuges for the enrichment of uranium at the Natanz nuclear facility in 2012.

An Iranian parliamentarian has said Iran has halted the enrichment of uranium at a level of 20 percent and has produced enough to fuel an experimental nuclear reactor in Tehran.

In comments posted on October 22 on the website of the Iranian parliament, lawmaker Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, deputy chairman of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said there is "no need for more production."

The Tehran reactor is intended to produce medical isotopes; however, the United States and other countries believe the enrichment program is intended to produce nuclear weapons.

Hosseini also said Tehran is ready to convert all its 20-percent-enriched uranium to fuel rods for the reactor, which he said would "remove concerns over its nonpeaceful use."

Iranian negotiators reportedly offered to halt 20-percent enrichment during a recent round of international talks in Geneva. However, the Iranian government hasn't publicly commented on that.

Based on reporting by "The New York Times" and AP