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Iran 'enters new nuclear phase' Iran 'enters new nuclear phase'
(40 minutes later)
Iran has entered an "industrial stage" in its production of nuclear fuel, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.Iran has entered an "industrial stage" in its production of nuclear fuel, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.
He was speaking at a ceremony at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant to mark Iran's nuclear technology day. But in a speech at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, he gave no details of what capacity had now been reached.
Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes, but the West fears it wants to build atomic bombs.Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes, but the West fears it wants to build atomic bombs.
Correspondents say the announcement that Iran has achieved industrial-scale enrichment is likely to further strain tensions with the West Correspondents say the announcement that Iran has achieved industrial-scale enrichment is likely to further strain tensions with the West.
Journalists and diplomats have been invited to the special events taking place at the site, but European Union diplomats are boycotting them in protest at Iran's refusal to comply with UN demands to end its uranium enrichment programme. The UN has passed two packages of sanctions against Iran for refusing to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.
The most sensitive areas at Natanz, deep underground, are thought to be halls for up to 50,000 centrifuges - the machines that enrich uranium gas 'Irreversible'
"With great honour, I declare that as of today our dear country has joined the nuclear club of nations and can produce nuclear fuel on an industrial scale," Mr Ahmadinejad told the audience assembled at Natanz to mark Iran's nuclear technology day.
He did not say how many centrifuges - the machines that spin uranium gas in order to enrich it to levels needed for fuel - were now operational at Natanz.
Iran announced in February that it had set up two cascades of 164 centrifuges each at Natanz. It said it planned to have 3,000 centrifuges by the end of last month.
The most sensitive areas at Natanz, deep underground, are thought to be halls that can hold up to 50,000 centrifuges.
Mr Ahmadinejad again asserted Iran's right to nuclear development for peaceful purposes, and said that progress was "irreversible".
He also warned that Iran would have no choice but to review its membership of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if further pressure was applied by the West.
Journalists and diplomats were invited to the special events taking place at Natanz, but European Union diplomats boycotted them in protest at Iran's refusal to comply with UN demands to end its uranium enrichment programme.