Ahmadinejad: 'Friendly Relations' With U.N. Nuclear Watchdog Are Over

The International Atomic Energy Agency intends to probe Iran on its plan to expand its uranium enrichment program, Reuters reported.

"The Agency will be seeking clarification from Iran on its announcement," said IAEA Spokesperson Gill Tudor.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said it is not necessary to hold discussions with the West, Reuters reported.

"Iran's nuclear issue has been resolved ... We will hold no talks (with major powers) over this issue. There is no need for talks," Ahmadinejad told state television, according to Reuters.

"We are not obliged to inform the International Atomic Energy Agency about our plans to build nuclear sites unless the technology is imported."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Tehran is reviewing the option of decreasing cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog after it issued a resolution critical of Iran last week.

Speaking in a live television interview late Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said "friendly relations with the agency are over," adding that while they were still cooperating with it for now, that policy was under review.

He said in the past Iran had cooperated with the agency beyond what was required by international law, but now they would review restrictions on its access.

Iran announced plans to start constructing 10 new uranium enrichment plants in the country over the next two months. The IAEA claims Tehran had not yet informed the agency of its decision, Reuters reported.

"The situation surrounding the agency is stormy now. We have a lot of difficult challenges," said the new chief of International Atomic Energy Yukiya Amano, according to Reuters.

Iran's defiance has heightened tensions with the West, which has signaled it is running out of patience with Iran's continuing enrichment and its balking at a U.N. deal aimed at ensuring Tehran cannot build a nuclear weapon in the near-term future. The U.S. and its allies have hinted at new U.N. sanctions if Iran does not respond.

Iran's new enrichment plants is expected to take years to build and stock with centrifuges. But the ambitious plans were a bold show by Iran that it is willing to risk further sanctions and won't back down amid a deadlock in negotiation attempts.

Iran currently has one operating enrichment facility, at the central town of Natanz, which has churned out around 3,300 pounds of low-enriched uranium over the past years — enough to build a nuclear weapon if Iran enriches it to a higher level.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this article.