Iran has opened a plant to convert a type of uranium into a material that can only be used in nuclear reactors, according to the country's official news agency.

The Irna report quoted Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's nuclear agency, as saying the plant is part of the interim deal the Islamic Republic struck with world powers over its nuclear programme. He said the plant will convert uranium hexafluoride, which can be used to make nuclear weapons, into uranium dioxide. Iran is negotiating a final deal over nuclear programmes after striking an interim agreement last November.