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UN: Iran is enriching uranium at secret site
The latest report by United Nations experts disclosed a 42 per cent rise in the number of operational centrifuges enriching uranium inside the Natanz facility in the last four months.Work inside a second, previously secret enrichment plant has also been stepped up, with 698 centrifuges operating inside the Fordow installation near Qom, a 69 per cent increase on the number recorded during the last inspection in October. Meanwhile, the IAEA said that Iran had declined to offer full co-operation to its inspectors when they visited the country earlier this month. In particular, they were prevented from visiting a military location at Parchin, where experiments that would only be relevant to mastering the detonation system of nuclear weapons are understood to have been conducted. It bemoaned "major differences" with Iran after two fruitless visits. Guido Westerwelle, the German foreign minister, said that he was very concerned about the latest report from the IAEA, adding: We think Iran should understand the key to ending sanctions is in their own hands: they have a duty to co-operate with the international community. The latest report by the IAEA is likely to deepen Israels fears about Irans intentions, particularly the build-up of centrifuges in the Fordow facility, which is dug into a mountainside and could be immune from military attack. Posted by: tipper 2012-02-24 |
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