Iran's official news agency is reporting the country has established headquarters for managing nuclear crises.

The report by IRNA says the headquarters will be in charge of monitoring and confronting nuclear threats and pollution as well as improving public awareness.

The move is seen a part of preparations for increasing use of nuclear energy.

Iran enriches uranium at 3.5 and 20 percent. The West suspects Iran is preparing to make nuclear weapons, but Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, like generating electricity.

Iran has several nuclear sites, including a nuclear power plant under power generation tests. It is working on enrichment facilities and is building a heavy water reactor.

The report says Fereidoun Abbasi, Iran's nuclear chief, will run the headquarters operation under the civil defense agency.