Chief of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi has claimed that his country has produced roughly 30 kg of 20-percent enriched fuel so far. He disclosed this to reporters in Iran's southern mine of Bandar Abbas from which uranium is explored. Salehi said, Iran has extended lifespan of its Bandar Abbas mine as exploration and extraction of uranium is being done simultaneously.AIR correspondent reports, the availability of 20 percent enriched uranium in Iran is a known fact but its quantity and level of enrichment was always the matter of discussion and speculation. In September this year, Iran announced its readiness to resume nuclear discussions on fuel exchange, stating that any negotiations must be conducted within the framework of a declaration the country issued with Brazil and Turkey on 17 May regarding nuclear fuel exchange. Under the declaration, Tehran agreed to ship most of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for fuel grade uranium. Iran has regularly been saying that it needs nuclear fuel for its research reactor in Tehran, but Western powers fear that its uranium enrichment programme is aimed at producing atomic weapons. Tehran denies the charges. In this connection, Iran is facing four rounds of UN sanctions and 4th round of resolution against Iran was imposed by UN Security Council on June 9 this year following Iran's refusal tosuspend peaceful nuclear work, the sanctions mainly target Iran's energy and banking sectors. Meanwhile, Iranian Army will stage a massive military drill in the south of the country late November or December. Iranian PressTV quoting a top Iranian commander Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan has reported that it will last for one week in which various military equipment including drones, missiles and upgraded tanks will be displayed.