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Iran 'concealed nuclear facility' Iran 'concealed nuclear facility'
(12 minutes later)
Iran has been accused of concealing a second uranium enrichment plant in defiance of international calls for transparency over its nuclear plans.Iran has been accused of concealing a second uranium enrichment plant in defiance of international calls for transparency over its nuclear plans.
US President Barack Obama and French and UK leaders demanded UN inspectors have immediate access to the facility. The leaders of the US, UK and France demanded UN inspectors be given immediate access to the facility.
Iran revealed the existence of the plant to the UN watchdog on Monday, saying it was not yet operational and would only be used for nuclear energy.Iran revealed the existence of the plant to the UN watchdog on Monday, saying it was not yet operational and would only be used for nuclear energy.
Tehran has previously acknowledged it has one enrichment plant, at Natanz.Tehran has previously acknowledged it has one enrichment plant, at Natanz.
Iran's decision to build a secret facility represented a "direct challenge to the basic compact" of the global non-proliferation regime, Mr Obama said, making a statement in Pittsburgh, where he is hosting the G20 summit.Iran's decision to build a secret facility represented a "direct challenge to the basic compact" of the global non-proliferation regime, Mr Obama said, making a statement in Pittsburgh, where he is hosting the G20 summit.
'Line in the sand''Line in the sand'
Mr Obama said that despite Iran's assertions that the facility was for peaceful purposes, the new plant was "not consistent" with that goal.Mr Obama said that despite Iran's assertions that the facility was for peaceful purposes, the new plant was "not consistent" with that goal.
Iran must abandon any military ambitions for its nuclear programme Gordon BrownUK Prime Minister ANALYSIS BBC World Affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds
Iranian ambitions for this site are not known. It could be that they wanted a back-up in case their main plant at Natanz was attacked. But another fear is that they intended to enrich uranium more highly at the secret plant, to a level suitable for a nuclear explosion.
The discovery will strengthen the demands by the US and its allies for further sanctions to be imposed on Iran unless it suspends all enrichment, as required by the Security Council.
Iran on defensive over secret site
Speaking alongside UK PM Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Obama said it was time for Iran to begin meeting its international commitments.Speaking alongside UK PM Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Obama said it was time for Iran to begin meeting its international commitments.
"Iran must comply with UN Security Council resolutions and make clear it is prepared to meet its responsibilities as a member of the community of nations," Mr Obama said."Iran must comply with UN Security Council resolutions and make clear it is prepared to meet its responsibilities as a member of the community of nations," Mr Obama said.
Tehran would be held accountable for any failure to meet these responsibilities, he said.Tehran would be held accountable for any failure to meet these responsibilities, he said.
Speaking after Mr Obama, the French and British leaders used strong language to insist that Iran would now have to disclose full details of its entire nuclear programme or face new and tougher sanctions.Speaking after Mr Obama, the French and British leaders used strong language to insist that Iran would now have to disclose full details of its entire nuclear programme or face new and tougher sanctions.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown stressed that the US, France and UK were "at one" on the issue, and accused the Iranians of "serial deception".UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown stressed that the US, France and UK were "at one" on the issue, and accused the Iranians of "serial deception".
There was now "no choice but to draw a line in the sand" over the nuclear issue, he said.There was now "no choice but to draw a line in the sand" over the nuclear issue, he said.
"Iran must abandon any military ambitions for its nuclear programme.""Iran must abandon any military ambitions for its nuclear programme."
Mr Sarkozy said the situation was a challenge to the entire international community.Mr Sarkozy said the situation was a challenge to the entire international community.
"Everything must be put on the table," the French president said, adding that the world needed to see a "step change" from Iran in the coming months."Everything must be put on the table," the French president said, adding that the world needed to see a "step change" from Iran in the coming months.
Underground plant
The existence of that plant was itself only confirmed after intelligence emerged from Iranian exile groups several years ago.
IRAN'S NUCLEAR SITES Iran insists that all its nuclear facilities are for energy, not military purposesBushehr: Nuclear power plantIsfahan: Uranium conversion plantNatanz: Uranium enrichment plant, 4,592 working centrifuges, with 3,716 more installedSecond enrichment plant: Existence revealed to IAEA in Sept 2009. Separate reports say it is near Qom, and not yet operationalArak: Heavy water plant Iran's key nuclear sites
Western governments are said to have known of the existence of the new enrichment plant for several months.
It is said to be an underground facility at a mountain on the site of a former missile site belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards north-east of the holy city of Qom.
Construction on the facility started in earnest in mid-2006, diplomatic sources said.
Iran's letter to the UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), came as the New York Times cited US officials giving the first details of the new plant.
The BBC's Iran correspondent Jon Leyne, reporting from London, says that Tehran appears to have been caught red-handed just one day after world leaders gathered to warn of the dangers of nuclear proliferation.