Celebrating the 31st anniversary of its Islamic revolution, Iran confirmed on Thursday, February 11, producing the first stock of highly enriched uranium for civilian technical applications.
"By God's grace ... it was reported that the first consignment of 20 percent enriched uranium was produced and was put at the disposal of the scientists," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told hundreds of thousands of cheering, flag-waving Iranians in Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Square.
"In the near future we will treble its production."
The Iranian leader had ordered the atomic authority on Sunday, February 6, to start producing higher-grade nuclear reactor fuel.
Iran had previously purified the fuel to just 3.5 percent, the level required for a nuclear power plant.
Tehran says it moved to produce the 20 percent enriched uranium for a research reactor making medical isotopes out of frustration at failure to reach agreement on a uranium exchange with world powers.
"They think it is such a big job to take some hundred kilos of 3.5 pct uranium out of Iran," Ahmadinejad said in the most important day in Iran's political calendar.
"We are making several kilos of this in Natanz every day. In the near future, inshallah, our daily production will be tripled."
Iran and the West are at loggerheads over a UN-sponsored deal under which Tehran would send about 70 percent of its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France in exchange for more highly enriched fuel to produce medical isotopes.
The West demands Iran to accept the deal, while Tehran insists that the low-enriched uranium swap should happen on stages.
No Bomb
Experts say that once Iran has enriched uranium to the 20 percent level, there is nothing to stop it carrying on to the 93 percent level needed to produce nuclear weapons as the technology is the same.
But Ahmadinejad insisted his country has no such plans.
"The Iranian nation is brave enough that if one day we wanted to build nuclear bombs we would announce it publicly without being afraid of you," he said, addressing Iran's Western rivals.
"When we say that we don't build nuclear bombs, it means that we won't do that because we don't believe in having it."
Ahmadinejad stressed that Iran now had nothing to hide and would not be bullied.
"They want to dominate our region but the Iranian people will never let them do that."
The West accuses Tehran of developing a secret nuclear weapons program.
Iran insists that its nuclear program only aims at procuring power to feed an increasing local consumption.
Ahmadinejad accused US President Barack Obama of squandering an opportunity to change Washington's foreign policy.
"Unfortunately, the hope for change is in the process of rapidly changing to despair."
Washington is rallying allies to push through a new round of tighter sanctions on Iran.
Though Russia seems to be on board, China remains reluctant and urges increased efforts to resolve the standoff through negotiations.
"By God's grace ... it was reported that the first consignment of 20 percent enriched uranium was produced and was put at the disposal of the scientists," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told hundreds of thousands of cheering, flag-waving Iranians in Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Square.
"In the near future we will treble its production."
The Iranian leader had ordered the atomic authority on Sunday, February 6, to start producing higher-grade nuclear reactor fuel.
Iran had previously purified the fuel to just 3.5 percent, the level required for a nuclear power plant.
Tehran says it moved to produce the 20 percent enriched uranium for a research reactor making medical isotopes out of frustration at failure to reach agreement on a uranium exchange with world powers.
"They think it is such a big job to take some hundred kilos of 3.5 pct uranium out of Iran," Ahmadinejad said in the most important day in Iran's political calendar.
"We are making several kilos of this in Natanz every day. In the near future, inshallah, our daily production will be tripled."
Iran and the West are at loggerheads over a UN-sponsored deal under which Tehran would send about 70 percent of its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France in exchange for more highly enriched fuel to produce medical isotopes.
The West demands Iran to accept the deal, while Tehran insists that the low-enriched uranium swap should happen on stages.
No Bomb
Experts say that once Iran has enriched uranium to the 20 percent level, there is nothing to stop it carrying on to the 93 percent level needed to produce nuclear weapons as the technology is the same.
But Ahmadinejad insisted his country has no such plans.
"The Iranian nation is brave enough that if one day we wanted to build nuclear bombs we would announce it publicly without being afraid of you," he said, addressing Iran's Western rivals.
"When we say that we don't build nuclear bombs, it means that we won't do that because we don't believe in having it."
Ahmadinejad stressed that Iran now had nothing to hide and would not be bullied.
"They want to dominate our region but the Iranian people will never let them do that."
The West accuses Tehran of developing a secret nuclear weapons program.
Iran insists that its nuclear program only aims at procuring power to feed an increasing local consumption.
Ahmadinejad accused US President Barack Obama of squandering an opportunity to change Washington's foreign policy.
"Unfortunately, the hope for change is in the process of rapidly changing to despair."
Washington is rallying allies to push through a new round of tighter sanctions on Iran.
Though Russia seems to be on board, China remains reluctant and urges increased efforts to resolve the standoff through negotiations.
