BEIJING, Nov. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The UN atomic energy agency says the Iranian government has sharply slowed its pace of uranium enrichment ahead of new nuclear talks with six world powers.

In a report issued on Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency also says no major new components have been installed at an Iranian nuclear reactor that will produce plutonium as a byproduct. Iran’s stocks of higher-grade enriched uranium have risen by about 5 percent to 196 kilograms since August. But it still remains below the 250 kilograms needed for a bomb if refined further to weapons grade.

The report roughly covers the last three months, the period since Hassan Rouhani became Iranian president. Iran says its nuclear activities are only for medical and research purposes. It denies any interest in nuclear weapons.

(Source: CNTV.cn)