Via Silver Lining
Posted on February 8, 2010 by realistic bird
Al Manar
08/02/2010 Iran on Monday officially notified the UN nuclear watchdog of its plans to produce 20 percent enriched uranium, Tehran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency told Al-Alam television. “Iran’s official letter about commencing the 20 percent enrichment activity in order to provide fuel for the Tehran reactor has been handed over to the IAEA,” Ali Asghar Soltanieh told the state-owned channel by telephone from Vienna.
“We will hand over an official letter to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) tomorrow, informing the agency that we will start making 20% enriched fuel from Tuesday,” the head of Tehran’s Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying earlier.
Iran would halt its enrichment process for the Tehran research reactor any time it receives the necessary fuel for it,” Salehi said. The Iranian year, or Newroz, starts on March 21.
“Russia believes Iran must send its uranium abroad for higher enrichment in line with an international agreement signed last year,” Interfax news agency said Monday quoting the foreign ministry. “The way out of the current situation is for Iran to fulfill the agreement reached on October 1 last year in Geneva, which provides for uranium for the Tehran research centre to be sent abroad for full enrichment,” an unnamed ministry spokesman was quoted by the agency as saying.
Earlier Sunday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad instructed Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization to start work on producing nuclear fuel for a Tehran research reactor. “I (ask) Dr. Salehi to start work on the production of 20% fuel using centrifuges,” Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech.
“We are interested in cooperation with the West, but if they want to keep playing games with the Iranian nation, then we must be prepared and enrich uranium at 20% ourselves,” the president said. But he added, “The doors for interaction are still open.” Ahmadinejad also said Iran had the capability to enrich uranium using laser technology, without elaborating.
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the response by Iran was very disappointing. “If the international community will stand together and bring pressure to bear on the Iranian government, I believe there is still time for sanctions and pressure to work,” he told a news conference during a visit to Italy.
Uprooted Palestinian
No comments:
Post a Comment