Iran claims fresh nuclear success ahead of talks

IRAN claimed another advance in its disputed nuclear activities yesterday, fewer than 24 hours before opening a new round of arms talks with world powers.

The political leaders of six US-allied Gulf Arab nations are due to meet today and Tuesday to discuss a very wide agenda, everything from Qatar’s surprise selection to host the 2022 World Cup, new WikiLeaks revelations and the region’s deep concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran is now sure to move to the top of the agenda for the talks.

Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said that for the first time the country had mined its own uranium — which can be processed into material used to make nuclear energy or nuclear weapons — giving it a way to bypass UN sanctions prohibiting the material’s import.