Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Iran Orders Boost in Uranium Enrichment

   Iran  says  it  needs uranium enriched to 20 percent to fuel a medical
   research reactor

   Elizabeth Arrott | Cairo 08 February 2010
   Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, wears eye protection goggles as
   he  visits  an  exhibition of Iran's laser science, in Tehran, Iran, 7
   Feb 2010

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

   Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, wears eye protection goggles as
   he  visits  an  exhibition of Iran's laser science, in Tehran, Iran, 7
   Feb 2010

   The  head of Iran's atomic energy organization says he has ordered the
   further  enrichment  of  uranium  to  start  Tuesday.   Iran's current
   processing  program  would  likely need reconfiguring first, prompting
   speculation  the  announcement  may  have more to do with negotiations
   with the West than imminent enrichment.
   Iran's nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, said he would send a letter to
   the U.N. nuclear agency informing it of the decision to enrich uranium
   to 20 percent.
   Speaking  to  Iran's Arabic al-Alam television, Salehi said Iran would
   start the process in the presence of inspectors and observers from the
   International Atomic Energy Agency.
   The  move  follows an order Sunday by President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad to
   go  ahead  with  further enrichment, one of the many varying responses
   Iranian  officials  have  given  to  a U.N. plan to enrich the uranium
   abroad.
   The  IAEA  wants  Iran to send most of its uranium stockpile to Russia
   and France to boost it to 20 percent and turn it into fuel rods.  Such
   rods  would  be very difficult to enrich even more, for example to the
   90 percent needed to make nuclear weapons.
   If  Iran  can manage to push the uranium to 20 percent on its own, and
   it  is  not  clear  that  it can, Western scientists say it could also
   likely enrich it to weapons grade.
   Iran denies its nuclear program has a military component, and says the
   enrichment  is  for  fuel  for  a  Tehran  reactor  that makes medical
   isotopes.  It worries it would not get the uranium back if it sends it
   overseas.
   Nuclear  chief  Salehi  said Iran would readily stop the enrichment if
   the West were to give it the fuel.
   Salehi  told  al-Alam that the offer is still open, and that once Iran
   receives the fuel it will stop the enrichment.
   Western  countries,  in particular the United States, say the original
   deal  was  not  meant  to be modified and are pushing for further U.N.
   sanctions.
   U.S.  Defense  Secretary  Robert  Gates  says  there is still time for
   sanctions to work.
   Meanwhile,  with  tensions  over  the standoff rising, Iranian Defense
   Minister  Ahmad  Vahidi said Iran has begun production of two types of
   unmanned  aircraft  with  both  surveillance  and attack capabilities.
   Vahidi  noted  that  the  drones  can  carry  out  assaults  with high
   precision.
   Meanwhile,  Iranian Air Force commander Hesmatollah Kassiri was quoted
   as  saying  that  Iran  is  working on a new air defense system.   The
   commander  said  Russia has been slow to deliver its S-300 missiles as
   agreed,  but that Iran's domestically-built system will be as powerful
   or even stronger.
   Iran  frequently announces major advances in its military, nuclear and
   space  programs.   The  latest  advances  have  not been independently
   confirmed.

.