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Iran nuclear operations confirmed Iran nuclear operations confirmed
(about 7 hours later)
Iran has assembled 1,300 centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear plant and has begun the process of enriching uranium, the UN nuclear watchdog has confirmed. Iran has started enriching small amounts of uranium gas at its underground plant at Natanz, according to the UN's nuclear agency, the IAEA.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said eight cascades of centrifuges, the machines that spin uranium gas into enriched material, were now operating. The agency said eight cascades of more than 1,300 centrifuges, the machines that spin uranium gas into enriched material, were now operating.
Earlier this month Iran's president said Natanz was ready to enrich uranium on an industrial-scale.Earlier this month Iran's president said Natanz was ready to enrich uranium on an industrial-scale.
The West suspects Iran of seeking atomic weapons, a charge Iran denies.The West suspects Iran of seeking atomic weapons, a charge Iran denies.
Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.
The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on Teheran for its failure to scale back its nuclear programme.
Inspections continuingInspections continuing
The confidential three-paragraph letter was written by the deputy director general of the IAEA, Olli Heinonen. Diplomatic sources have confirmed to the BBC the contents of what was a confidential letter from the International Atomic Energy Agency to Iranian officials.
It confirmed the findings of a team of IAEA inspectors who conducted a routine "design information verification" mission to Natanz in the past week. The document - a letter signed by the IAEA's director general, Ollie Heinonen - said the Agency took note of the information provided by Iran that it is running more 1,300 centrifuges - the machines used to spin the gas into enriched uranium.
Those inspectors were informed that Iran was now operating 1,312 centrifuges at Natanz, the letter said. It said some UF6 uranium gas was being fed into the centrifuges. The disclosure of the inspectors' findings comes after the head of the IAEA, Mohammed ElBaradei, downplayed Iran's claim that it was beginning industrial-scale production.
An undefined quantity of uranium gas was being fed into the centrifuges, the letter added.
The disclosure of the inspectors' findings comes after the head of the IAEA, Mohammed ElBaradei, downplayed Iran's claim that it was beginning industrial-scale production.
Speaking in Saudi Arabia last week, Mr ElBaradei said Iran would need thousands of centrifuges, but had only hundreds operating at present.Speaking in Saudi Arabia last week, Mr ElBaradei said Iran would need thousands of centrifuges, but had only hundreds operating at present.
He also said that Iran would not be able to produce the highly enriched uranium needed for a nuclear bomb as long as it remained under the supervision of IAEA inspectors.He also said that Iran would not be able to produce the highly enriched uranium needed for a nuclear bomb as long as it remained under the supervision of IAEA inspectors.
The UN Security Council has imposed a package of sanctions on Iran over its refusal to cease enriching uranium, which some Western countries fear could be part of a secret nuclear weapons programme. Iran says it plans to install 50,000 centrifuges at the Natanz plant.