Iran pushes ahead with nuclear programme

Iran is currently installing 3,000 centrifuges, a top Iranian governor said today in an announcement underlining that Iran will continue its nuclear programme despite UN sanctions.

“We are right now installing 3,000 centrifuges,” said Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

Boroujerdi, the head of the Iranian Parliament’s Foreign Policy and National Security Committee, said the installation, under way at an Iranian uranium enrichment plant, “stabilises Iran’s capability in the field of nuclear technology,” IRNA reported.

Three inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) who arrived in Iran today are scheduled to visit the uranium enrichment plant in Natanz, Iranian state-television reported.

Iran last week barred 38 inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog because they come from countries that voted for sanctions on Iran. State television did not give the nationalities of the three inspectors, and the IAEA could not immediately confirm their arrival in Iran.

Iran’s announcement appears to be its latest gesture of defiance toward the international community over its nuclear programme. It faces the prospect of additional UN sanctions unless it stops uranium enrichment by the end of a 60-day period that ends next month.

The UN Security Council voted unanimously in favour of economic sanctions on December 23 after Iran ignored an earlier deadline to halt enrichment.

Large scale use of centrifuges makes it possible to produce more enriched uranium in a shorter period.

Enriched uranium is used to fuel nuclear reactors and to make nuclear weapons. Many countries, including the United States, believe Iran is using its nuclear programme as a cover to produce an atomic weapon.

Iranian officials said in recent weeks the country was moving toward large-scale enrichment involving 3,000 centrifuges, which spin uranium gas into enriched material.

Boroujerdi’s comments came a day after UN officials said Iran plans to begin work next month on an underground uranium enrichment facility, as part of a plan to create a network of tens of thousands of machines to enrich uranium.

Iranian officials have said repeatedly work would start soon on the uranium enrichment facility at its Natanz underground plant. The subterranean facility is intended to protect the nuclear project from attack.

There had been speculation the leadership might launch the project at Natanz next month to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that brought the clerical leadership to power.

“I understand that they are going to announce that they are going to build up their 3,000 centrifuge facility … sometime next month,” IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters at the World Economic Forum said Friday.

A senior US State Department official warned against the move. “If Iran takes this step, it is going to confront universal international opposition,” Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said yesterday. “If they think they can get away with 3,000 centrifuges without another Security Council resolution and additional international pressure, then they are very badly mistaken.”

Iran ultimately plans to expand its programme to 54,000 centrifuges, a large operation enriching more uranium within a shorter period of time.

The US and some of its allies accuse Iran of trying to produce atomic weapons. Iran denies this, saying its programme is only for generating electricity, not a bomb.

In enrichment plants, centrifuges are linked in what are called cascades. For now, the only known assembled centrifuge cascades in Iran are above ground at Natanz, consisting of two linked chains of 164 machines each and two smaller set-ups.