Tehran  - Iran has started to install 3,000 new centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear plant in central Iran, the website of state television network IRIB quoted President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying Tuesday.

"Last year our scientists installed 3,000 centrifuges in Natanz and we entered the phase of uranium enrichment at industrial level and today we have started the installation of 3,000 new centrifuges," the IRIB website quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

The state media had earlier quoted the president as saying that 6,000 new centrifuges were to be installed but Ahmadinejad apparently referred to 6,000 as the total number of centrifuges and not new ones.

Also, the ISNA news agency reported the installation of only 3,000 new centrifuges.

The president added that there have also been other new nuclear developments which would be disclosed later Tuesday.

On the occasion of the so-called "National Day of Nuclear Achievement," Ahmadinejad visited the Natanz site earlier Tuesday.

Iran will also hold a special ceremony on Tuesday evening in Tehran to commemorate the occasion and disclose further details on new nuclear achievements. (dpa )