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Iran 'reaches key nuclear goal' Iran 'reaches key nuclear goal'
(about 1 hour later)
Iran has met a key target for its nuclear programme and now has 3,000 centrifuges enriching uranium, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.Iran has met a key target for its nuclear programme and now has 3,000 centrifuges enriching uranium, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.
Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran would continue its drive in spite of UN sanctions aimed at forcing a suspension. Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran would continue its drive in spite of UN sanctions.
Centrifuges enrich uranium to the level required for a power station but also to higher levels for a nuclear bomb. Enriched uranium can be used for power stations but also for nuclear bombs. The West has accused Iran of trying to develop weapons - a charge Iran denies.
The West has accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons - a charge Iran has strongly denied. A BBC correspondent says there is some scepticism about Iran's claim, with the UN believing it is short of the 3,000.
IAEA planIAEA plan
"We have more than 3,000 centrifuges working and every week a new set is installed," Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by Iranian news agencies."We have more than 3,000 centrifuges working and every week a new set is installed," Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by Iranian news agencies.
"[The world powers] were thinking that with each resolution the Iranian nation would retreat. But after each resolution the Iranian nation presented another nuclear achievement.""[The world powers] were thinking that with each resolution the Iranian nation would retreat. But after each resolution the Iranian nation presented another nuclear achievement."
TIMELINE: IRAN ENRICHMENT 2003: Enrichment programme that had been hidden for 18 years is uncovered by IAEAFeb 2006: Iran reported to Security Council5 Feb 2007: Diplomats confirm Iranian claims to have set up more than 300 centrifuges in two cascades9 April: Iran claims to be enriching uranium on an "industrial scale". IAEA and Russian officials are sceptical19 April: IAEA document confirms that Iran running more than 1,300 centrifuges in eight cascades 2 September: Iran claims to have 3,000 centrifuges running Q&A: Iran nuclear issue TIMELINE: IRAN ENRICHMENT 2003: Enrichment programme that had been hidden for 18 years is uncovered by IAEAFeb 2006: Iran reported to Security Council5 Feb 2007: Diplomats confirm Iranian claims to have set up more than 300 centrifuges in two cascades9 April: Iran claims to be enriching uranium on an "industrial scale". IAEA and Russian officials are sceptical19 April: IAEA document confirms that Iran running more than 1,300 centrifuges in eight cascades 2 September: Iran claims to have 3,000 centrifuges running Q&A: Iran nuclear issue
The installation of 3,000 centrifuges is seen by Iran as a key medium-term goal - which it had hoped to reach by March this year - for its nuclear programme.The installation of 3,000 centrifuges is seen by Iran as a key medium-term goal - which it had hoped to reach by March this year - for its nuclear programme.
There has been no independent verification of Iran's claim.There has been no independent verification of Iran's claim.
The UN has already imposed two sets of sanctions and the US is leading the call for a third set if Iran's uranium enrichment does not halt.The UN has already imposed two sets of sanctions and the US is leading the call for a third set if Iran's uranium enrichment does not halt.
Only last week the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had agreed a plan with Iran to clear up key questions about its past nuclear activities, calling it a "significant step forward".Only last week the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had agreed a plan with Iran to clear up key questions about its past nuclear activities, calling it a "significant step forward".
It also suggested that Iran was well short of the breakthrough President Ahmadinejad has now announced. The IAEA has said 3,000 centrifuges would represent a point of no-return for an industrial-scale production of enriched uranium.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says that therefore there must be some scepticism about the claim. But it also suggested last week that Iran had 1,968 operational centrifuges - significantly short of the breakthrough President Ahmadinejad has now announced.
Our correspondent says that on the one hand Iran seems to be trying to defuse the situation but on the other, the president is saying Tehran has now mastered uranium enrichment and the issue should be set aside. The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says on the one hand Iran seems to be trying to defuse the situation in talks but, on the other, the president is saying Tehran has now mastered uranium enrichment and the issue should be set aside.
The US and UN are not going to accept that, our correspondent says.The US and UN are not going to accept that, our correspondent says.
A number of Western diplomats have criticised the IAEA's plan, accusing Iran of trying to delay the imposition of further UN sanctions while increasing its nuclear capabilities.A number of Western diplomats have criticised the IAEA's plan, accusing Iran of trying to delay the imposition of further UN sanctions while increasing its nuclear capabilities.
US President George W Bush also recently stepped up the pressure with a new warning that Iran's nuclear programme put the region under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust.US President George W Bush also recently stepped up the pressure with a new warning that Iran's nuclear programme put the region under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust.
Key meetings of the UN and IAEA on the Iranian issue are scheduled over the coming weeks.Key meetings of the UN and IAEA on the Iranian issue are scheduled over the coming weeks.
A recent International Institute for Strategic Studies report said if Iran could operate 3,000 centrifuges smoothly, one bomb could be produced within nine to 11 months.