Iran 'steps up' nuclear program

Iran

Iran has significantly increased its production of enriched uranium, with almost 5,000 centrifuges now operating, according to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The IAEA report, seen by the media on Friday, said that Iran had stepped up production at its Natanz facility where uranium gas is processed into enriched material.
Over 2,000 more centrifuges are ready for operation and nearly 1,300 kilograms of low-enriched uranium had been produced as of May 31, the IAEA report said.
The new figures compare to just over 1,000 kilograms mentioned in the last IAEA report in February - an amount that experts subsequently said was enough to produce a nuclear warhead.
Iran, though, insists it wants a uranium enrichment industry solely to provide an alternative source of electricity.
Commenting on the IAEA report, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security said that at the present pace of production of enriched uranium, Tehran could make two nuclear weapons within eight months.
The report said inspectors have told Iran that the growing pace of enrichment is causing the agency to review its inspection routine so that it can maintain oversight of the process.
PHOTO CAPTION
An anti-aircraft gun is positioned in front of the reactor building of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, 2006.
Agencies

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