In a new defiance to the West, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered Sunday, February 6, the production of higher-grade nuclear reactor fuel, drawing immediate fire from major world powers.
“Now Dr (Ali Akbar) Salehi, start to make the 20 percent with the centrifuges," Ahmadinejad told the atomic chief at an exhibition on laser technology broadcast on the state television.
The defiant Iranian leader blamed the West for the deadlock over the nuclear fuel deal.
"We had told them (the West) to come and have a swap, although we could produce the 20 percent enriched fuel ourselves," he said.
"We gave them two-to-three months' time for such a deal. They started a new game.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) proposed last October a deal whereby Iran 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 5+1 group, which comprises the five Security Council member states - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus German, had set a December 31 deadline for Tehran to accept the proposal.
Tehran had insisted that the low-enriched uranium swap should happen on stages, giving the West until the end of January to accept its own proposal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Friday that a final deal on nuclear enrichment was “possible”.
Ahmadinejad, however left the door open for negotiations with the West to reach an agreement on nuclear enrichment.
“If they came and said, 'We will exchange without conditions,' then we will exchange," Ahmadinejad said.
"If they say they will cooperate regarding the reactor and the medicines, we will say, Very well, we cooperate."
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.
Western Anger
The Iranian move has stirred the anger of Western polls, amid calls for an action against the Islamic Republic, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“If the international community will stand together and bring pressure to bear on the Iranian government, I believe there is still time for sanctions and pressure to work,” US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a press conference in Italy.
“We must all work together."
Gates said the Iranian action were very disappointing, despite the West’s efforts to engage with Tehran.
"No one has tried more sincerely to reach out and engage with Iran than the President (Barack) Obama.
“The international community has offered the Iranian government multiple opportunities to provide reassurance on its intentions. The results have been very disappointing,” he said.
The British government also raced to condemn the Iranian move.
"Reports that Iran is planning to enrich some of their fuel to 20 percent level of enrichment are clearly a matter of serious concern," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.
“This would be a deliberate breach of five UNSCRs (United Nations Security Council Resolutions)."
The West has been rallying to slap a fourth round of UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
"It may be that the sanctions screw needs to be or can be turned here and there, We need to consider very carefully what impact our options could have," said German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
He said that it should be made clear to Iran that "patience is at an end."
“Now Dr (Ali Akbar) Salehi, start to make the 20 percent with the centrifuges," Ahmadinejad told the atomic chief at an exhibition on laser technology broadcast on the state television.
The defiant Iranian leader blamed the West for the deadlock over the nuclear fuel deal.
"We had told them (the West) to come and have a swap, although we could produce the 20 percent enriched fuel ourselves," he said.
"We gave them two-to-three months' time for such a deal. They started a new game.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) proposed last October a deal whereby Iran 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 5+1 group, which comprises the five Security Council member states - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus German, had set a December 31 deadline for Tehran to accept the proposal.
Tehran had insisted that the low-enriched uranium swap should happen on stages, giving the West until the end of January to accept its own proposal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Friday that a final deal on nuclear enrichment was “possible”.
Ahmadinejad, however left the door open for negotiations with the West to reach an agreement on nuclear enrichment.
“If they came and said, 'We will exchange without conditions,' then we will exchange," Ahmadinejad said.
"If they say they will cooperate regarding the reactor and the medicines, we will say, Very well, we cooperate."
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.
Western Anger
The Iranian move has stirred the anger of Western polls, amid calls for an action against the Islamic Republic, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“If the international community will stand together and bring pressure to bear on the Iranian government, I believe there is still time for sanctions and pressure to work,” US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a press conference in Italy.
“We must all work together."
Gates said the Iranian action were very disappointing, despite the West’s efforts to engage with Tehran.
"No one has tried more sincerely to reach out and engage with Iran than the President (Barack) Obama.
“The international community has offered the Iranian government multiple opportunities to provide reassurance on its intentions. The results have been very disappointing,” he said.
The British government also raced to condemn the Iranian move.
"Reports that Iran is planning to enrich some of their fuel to 20 percent level of enrichment are clearly a matter of serious concern," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.
“This would be a deliberate breach of five UNSCRs (United Nations Security Council Resolutions)."
The West has been rallying to slap a fourth round of UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
"It may be that the sanctions screw needs to be or can be turned here and there, We need to consider very carefully what impact our options could have," said German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
He said that it should be made clear to Iran that "patience is at an end."
