Nuclear watchdog says Iran plans uranium enrichment

Iran broke UN seals on its nuclear enrichment facility, pledging only to conduct research, but the international nuclear watchdog said Tehran also planned small-scale enrichment of uranium – a process that can produce fuel for nuclear weapons.

The reopening of the Natanz facility yesterday drew an outcry from the US, Europe and Japan as the move was seen as defiance of demands that Iran maintain a freeze on its nuclear programme and could provide justification for it to be hauled before the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.