Iran unveiled a third generation of domestically built centrifuges today as the country pushed ahead with plans to accelerate a uranium enrichment programme that has alarmed world powers fearful of Tehran’s nuclear aims.

THE Iranian government approved a plan yesterday to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities, a dramatic expansion indefiance of UN demands to halt the programme.

The Iranian government approved a plan tonight to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities, a dramatic expansion in defiance of UN demands it halt the programme.

The UN nuclear watchdog is locked in a “stalemate” with Iran over the country’s suspect nuclear programme, the agency’s chief said today, pressing Tehran to answer lingering questions about its atomic ambitions.

Iran said today that it is currently installing 3,000 centrifuges, effectively confirming that its nuclear program is running behind schedule as these devices for uranium enrichment were to have been in place by the end of last year.

Iran’s nuclear chief today said his country had produced and stored 250 tonnes of the gas used as the feedstock for uranium enrichment, state-run television reported.

Iran has told the International Atomic Energy Agency to remove surveillance cameras and agency seals from sites and nuclear equipment that go beyond minimal commitments to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty by next week.

Iran has told the International Atomic Energy Agency to remove surveillance cameras and agency seals from sites and nuclear equipment that go beyond minimal commitments to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty by next week.

IRAN removed UN seals on uranium enrichment equipment and resumed nuclear research yesterday, defying demands it maintain a two-year freeze on its nuclear programme.

Iran’s row with the West over its nuclear programme escalated today with America warning of international sanctions.

Officials of the UN nuclear agency removed seals on Iran’s nuclear facilities today and research work resumed, said the deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran.

Iran has decided to resume the research into nuclear fuel production that has long been suspended, a top nuclear official said on state television today.

IRAN removed the final seals from equipment at a uranium conversion plant yesterday, as UN inspectors watched, paving the way for Tehran to fully open the facility.

UN nuclear inspectors were installing the last surveillance cameras and preparing to break their seals, enabling Iran to resume full uranium conversion at its nuclear facility today, Iran’s nuclear boss said.

Iran confirmed today it had converted 37 tons of raw uranium into gas needed to enrich uranium just before suspending all uranium enrichment related activities last year, a top nuclear official said.

Iran will press ahead on the “tortuous path” to developing civilian nuclear power, and official said today despite US allegations that the effort masks plans to build nuclear weapons.

Iran, accused by the US of using a nuclear energy program as a front to produce weapons, has repeatedly said its program is for peaceful purposes only, and that it needs nuclear power to generate enough electricity to remain self-sufficient.

Five UN nuclear inspectors arrived in Tehran today to try to confirm whether Iran has stopped suspicious nuclear activities – including, as it has twice promised to do, suspending the building and assembling of centrifuges for uranium enrichment.

Iran will stop building and assembling centrifuges for uranium enrichment this week, the country’s nuclear chief said today after a meeting with the chief UN weapons inspector.

EXPERTS from the UN nuclear watchdog began talks aimed at getting Iran to permit unrestricted inspections of its nuclear facilities even as a published report said that Iran was moving towards developing a nuclear weapons capability.

Iran led international media on a tour of its first nuclear power plant today, an invitation that followed US accusations that it is designed for weapons technology, not energy production.