Inspectors for the International Atomic Energy Agency have concluded that Iran is starting to enrich uranium on a much larger scale after solving key technical problems in that process, The New York Times reported on Monday.

At a short-notice inspection of Iran's operations in its main nuclear facility at Natanz on Sunday, inspectors found that Iranian engineers were already using about 1,300 centrifuges and producing fuel suitable for nuclear reactors, the newspaper said on its Web site, citing diplomats and nuclear experts in Vienna.

The major powers have accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear program to develop weapons but Tehran insists it only wants to produce electrical energy.

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In a story from Vienna, where the IAEA is headquartered, the newspaper said until recently Iranian engineers had been having problems keeping centrifuges spinning at the rate needed to make nuclear fuel.

"We believe they pretty much have the knowledge about how to enrich," the newspaper quoted IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei as saying. "From now on, it is simply a question of perfecting that knowledge. People will not like to hear it, but that's a fact."

The material produced so far would have to be enriched further before it could be turned into bomb-grade material, the Times said, and it is uncertain whether Iran has the technology to produce a weapon small enough to fit on its missiles.

In Washington, a senior United States official told Reuters, "The clock is ticking in some ways. I just don't know how much time is left. It's one thing to be able to enrich at a level high enough for a nuclear weapon, but then you also have to make sure you get the significant quantity, meaning enough for an explosion, and then be able to fit that into a device and onto a deliverable vehicle."

'No incentive'
"We're not familiar with any new assessment or findings by the IAEA," a U.S. State Department spokesman told Reuters. "It's no secret however, that Iran continues efforts to develop its nuclear program. That's why the international community has insisted on suspension before any negotiations can begin, otherwise Iran has no incentive to bargain in good faith."

Some diplomats expressed surprise that ElBaradei had spoken about the IAEA findings so openly before his next report to the United Nations Security Council later this month.

One diplomat said the findings would be a boost to those who have long questioned whether there was anything the international community could do to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear capability.

It also would fan new debate over the feasibility and desirability of military action against Iran, he said.

The UN Security Council has passed a resolution demanding Iran suspend all of its nuclear activities, and it has twice imposed sanctions over Tehran's refusal to do so.

Nicholas Burns, the undersecretary of state for policy, who is implementing the Iran strategy, was quoted by the Times as saying he had not heard about the IAEA's latest findings, but they would not affect U.S. policy.

"We're proceeding under the assumption that there is still time for diplomacy to work," Burns told the newspaper. But Burns added that if Iran did not agree to suspend production by the time leaders of the Group of 8 industrial nations meet next month, "we will move ahead toward a third set of sanctions," the newspaper said.