Iranian government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham said on Saturday that Iran will continue its nuclear program to generate 20 thousand megawatts of nuclear power.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency is aware of all Iran's legal nuclear programs. Stopping these activities is not on our agenda and the progress of our nuclear capabilities will continue until the production of nuclear fuel and the establishment of nuclear power plants are in order to generate 20 thousand megawatts of nuclear power."

While Tehran insists its nuclear program is intended only to produce energy, there is growing international concern that it could lead to the development of weapons.

Diplomats said on Friday that Iran has assembled hundreds of advanced machines in a possible indication that it aims to speed up uranium enrichment, a process that can produce both fuel for power plants and the fissile core of nuclear warheads.

The development seems to reflect Iran's determination to push ahead with its enrichment program despite three sets of UN Security Council sanctions, the most recent imposed last month.