IRAN: Tehran said yesterday that it is scaling down plutonium production plans at its partially built heavy-water reactor, saying the facility will make smaller amounts of plutonium than required for a nuclear weapon.

Nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said that instead of 22 pounds as initially planned, the Arak reactor will make less than 2.2 pounds.

The change of plans is part of a deal that Iran is negotiating with world powers to ensure its nuclear programme will not produce an atomic weapon.