Iran has produced about 88 pounds of 20 percent enriched uranium, the director of its nuclear program said.

Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Agency Energy Organization of Iran, said the enriched uranium will supply fuel for the Tehran research reactor.

"We have produced about 40kg (88.18 pound) of 20 percent (enriched) uranium and we hope to witness the injection of the first batch of Iran-made 20 percent fuel to the Tehran research reactor soon," Salehi said.

He said Iran is now one of the few countries that can produce fuel rods for nuclear power production, UPI reported.