Islam Times - Iran immenses Higher Uranium Enrichment

Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran’s Atomic Chief, announced on Tuesday that his country has started to produce 20 percent enriched uranium at the infamous Natanz Plant in Kashan, central Iran.

Salehi is quoted from the official Iran news agency (IRNA): “From today we have started the 20 percent enrichment in a separate cascade in Natanz.” He added: “We have prepared a cascade of 164 centrifuges for this purpose. This can make between three to five kilograms of 20 percent enriched uranium per month for Tehran reactor.”

Apparently the production is twice of what is needed by the Tehran reactor. The Islamic Republic has been making advances in their nuclear technology and have been conducting low-level enrichment in the Natanz plant for years.

Salehi states that the inspectors working for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitor all nuclear activities. He stated: “We have sent two letters to the IAEA notifying the start of uranium enrichment to 20 percent, and IAEA inspectors control this process.”

This enrichment was not a secret. In fact, the Islamic Republic officially informed the United Nations on Monday of its plans to enrich up to 20 percent. Salehi was ordered to enrich by the President of the Islamic Republic, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, after the international world did not agree to Tehran’s conditions.