This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6538957.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Iran 'enters new nuclear phase' Iran 'enters new nuclear phase'
(about 1 hour later)
Iran has entered an "industrial stage" in its production of nuclear fuel, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said. Iran can now produce nuclear fuel on an industrial scale, President Ahmadinejad has announced, in a move likely to further strain tensions with the West
But in a speech at the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, he gave no details of what capacity had now been reached. He gave no details of Iran's capacity, but some officials said 3,000 uranium gas enrichment centrifuges were running at the Natanz plant in central Iran.
Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes, but the West fears it wants to build atomic bombs. Mr Ahmadinejad's speech came as Iran celebrated nuclear technology day.
Correspondents say the announcement that Iran has achieved industrial-scale enrichment is likely to further strain tensions with the West. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is purely peaceful, but the West fears it wants to build atomic bombs.
The UN has passed two packages of sanctions against Iran for refusing to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.The UN has passed two packages of sanctions against Iran for refusing to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.
'Irreversible' In a first reaction from Washington, a US state department spokesman said the Iranian announcement was "another signal that Iran is defying the international community".
"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. NPT warning
"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 at Natanz.
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.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.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.
Ali Larijani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator with the West, said at Natanz on Monday that Iran had begun injecting gas into many of the centrifuges, without specifying the number.
Some other officials said 3,000 centrifuges had been installed, the BBC's Frances Harrison at Natanz reports.
The most sensitive areas at Natanz, deep underground, are thought to be halls that can hold up to 50,000 centrifuges.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". The Iranian president again asserted his country's right to nuclear development for peaceful purposes.
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. And 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.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.