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Iran's President Orders Higher Enrichment of Uranium

   Iran's  President  Mahmoud  Ahmadinejad  has ordered the production of
   higher-enriched uranium, casting doubt prospects of a nuclear exchange
   deal with the West.

     07 February 2010
   Iran Nuclear

   Iran Nuclear

   Iran's  president  has  ordered  his  country's atomic agency to begin
   producing  higher-enriched  uranium,  a  move  that casts doubt on the
   prospects of a nuclear exchange deal with the West.
   In   comments   broadcast  Sunday  on  state-run  television,  Mahmoud
   Ahmadinejad said he has asked the head of the atomic energy agency Ali
   Akbar  Salehi  to  begin enriching uranium to 20 percent.  The uranium
   would be used to fuel a research reactor.
   A  day earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said he sees no
   indication  that  a  nuclear deal is close between Iran and a group of
   world  powers,  despite  claims  by  Tehran.   Under  the  U.N.-backed
   proposal,  Iran  would  send its low-enriched uranium abroad in return
   for higher-grade nuclear fuel.
   The United States and other nations believe Iran is seeking to build a
   nuclear weapon, while Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful
   purposes only.
   During  Sunday's  speech, President Ahmadinejad also said Iran has the
   capability  to  enrich uranium using laser technology.  He also blamed
   world  powers  for  the stalemate over the fuel deal, but said Iran is
   still open to possible negotiation over the proposal.
   On Tuesday, the Iranian leader said his government was willing to send
   uranium  abroad  for further enrichment.  And Iranian Foreign Minister
   Manouchehr Mottaki told an international security conference that Iran
   was nearing agreement with world powers on a nuclear fuel exchange.
   The  major  players  involved  in  the  discussion over Iran's nuclear
   program  are  the  five  members  of  the U.N. Security Council -- the
   United  States,  China,  Russia, France and Britain -- plus Germany, a
   group known as the P5 plus 1.

   Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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