Tehran  - Iran is now operating more than 5,000 centrifuges for enriching uranium as it continues to move forward on developing a nuclear capability in defiance of the United Nations, the country's nuclear chief said Wednesday.

"Currently we have more than 5,000 centrifuges operating," Gholam- Reza Aqazadeh, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said, according to the official IRNA news agency.

The United States and its allies suspect Iran is seeking the ability to build nuclear weapons, and the UN Security Council has adopted three resolutions containing limited sanctions and demanding Tehran suspend uranium enrichment.

Tehran - Chief of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation Gholam-Reza Aqazadeh announced on Wednesday that more than 5,000 centrifuges are now actively running at the country's uranium enrichment plant, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Currently we have more than 5,000 centrifuges operating," the agency quoted Aqazadeh as telling reporters, signalling further expansion of the Islamic state's controversial nuclear activities.

Low-level enriched uranium is used to produce nuclear fuel but enrichment at higher levels makes it suitable for use in nuclear weapons.

Tehran - Chief of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation Gholam-Reza Aqazadeh announced on Wednesday that more than 5,000 centrifuges are now actively running at the country's uranium enrichment plant, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Currently we have more than 5,000 centrifuges operating," the agency quoted Aqazadeh as telling reporters, signalling further expansion of the Islamic state's controversial nuclear activities.

Low-level enriched uranium is used to produce nuclear fuel but enrichment at higher levels makes it suitable for use in nuclear weapons.

Tehran - A mass execution of 10 convicted murderers, including one woman, was carried out Wednesday at Evin prison in the Iranian capital Tehran.

Tehran - Iran's public prosecutor has demanded the death sentence for three Iranian agents allegedly linked Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, ISNA news agency reported Tuesday.

Saeid Mortazavi said that the three were trained in Tel Aviv but were arrested before they could start any operations.

Mortazavi said that the initial court demanded the death sentence for the three Iranian agents, ISNA reported.

A death sentence issued by the court should first be confirmed by the Supreme Court before the execution can take place.

Tehran - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday told visiting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman that to stand against Israel, Lebanon needed to maintain unity among various groups.

"Iran believes that the strength of all Lebanese groups lies in national unity for effectively confronting the Zionist regime (Israel)," the ayatollah said in his meeting with Suleiman.

Suleiman arrived in Tehran on Monday for a two-day state visit. He is the third Lebanese president to visit Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.