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Iran 'has second enrichment site' Iran 'has second enrichment site'
(41 minutes later)
Iran has revealed to the UN nuclear watchdog the existence of a second uranium enrichment plant, reports say.Iran has revealed to the UN nuclear watchdog the existence of a second uranium enrichment plant, reports say.
Tehran made the announcement in a letter to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohammed ElBaradei, sources are quoted as saying.Tehran made the announcement in a letter to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohammed ElBaradei, sources are quoted as saying.
Iran has previously acknowledged it has one enrichment plant at Natanz, which IAEA inspectors are monitoring.Iran has previously acknowledged it has one enrichment plant at Natanz, which IAEA inspectors are monitoring.
If confirmed, the reports will stoke fears that Iran is closer than thought to building a nuclear bomb.If confirmed, the reports will stoke fears that Iran is closer than thought to building a nuclear bomb.
The Iranian authorities have always insisted their nuclear programme is for peaceful means.The Iranian authorities have always insisted their nuclear programme is for peaceful means.
But the US and other Western nations fear Tehran is planning to develop an atomic weapon.But the US and other Western nations fear Tehran is planning to develop an atomic weapon.
Iran is supposed to have stopped all enrichment under threat of sanctions from the UN Security Council.Iran is supposed to have stopped all enrichment under threat of sanctions from the UN Security Council.
News of the Iranian letter comes days before Iran is due to enter fresh talks over its controversial nuclear programme.News of the Iranian letter comes days before Iran is due to enter fresh talks over its controversial nuclear programme.
'Comprehensive' talks'Comprehensive' talks
Diplomats close to the IAEA said Mr ElBaradei received the letter from Iran earlier this week, the Associated Press and Reuters reports. The New York Times reports that leaders of the US, UK and France will accuse Iran of building a secret plant, before the opening of the G-20 economic summit later on Friday.
Officials speaking to the AP said the letter contained no details about the location of the second facility, when it had started operations or the type and number of centrifuges it was running. ANALYSIS BBC World Affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds
Speaking to the BBC, the IAEA would neither confirm nor deny the reports, saying only that it was taking a serious look at the information. The New York Times report comes at a critical time as further sanctions on Iran, especially on its oil and gas industry, are being discussed.
If Iran is found to have hidden a plant from the IAEA, it will be put on the defensive.
Previously it had announced plans only for expanding its current enrichment plant at Natanz.
The Security Council has ordered Iran to freeze enrichment and has imposed sanctions aimed at its nuclear and ballistic missile work.
Iran has refused to comply, arguing that it has the right to develop a civil nuclear power programme.
The newspaper also quotes US officials as saying that the site - built inside a mountain near the ancient city of Qom - is not yet complete, but could be ready for operation next year.
It said the facility is believed to be capable of holding some 3,000 centrifuges, the machines that enrich uranium.
Iran described it as a "pilot plant" under construction in its letter to Mr ElBaradei, received earlier this week, the newspaper reports.
Speaking to the BBC, the IAEA would neither confirm nor deny the reports about the plant, saying only that it was taking a serious look at the information.
This development, if confirmed, will encourage fears that Iran has other secret facilities that could be used to make a nuclear bomb, the BBC's Tehran correspondent, Jon Leyne, says in London.This development, if confirmed, will encourage fears that Iran has other secret facilities that could be used to make a nuclear bomb, the BBC's Tehran correspondent, Jon Leyne, says in London.
Natanz, some 250km (150 miles) south of Tehran, had been kept secret until its existence was revealed by exiled groups several years ago, he adds.Natanz, some 250km (150 miles) south of Tehran, had been kept secret until its existence was revealed by exiled groups several years ago, he adds.
In a report of its visit to Natanz in August, the IAEA said the site was operating 4,592 centrifuges and a further 3,716 were installed.
It said work on the first of two production halls for centrifuges, Iran had previously told inspectors it was planning, was nearly complete.
Iran has been under months of pressure to accept US President Barack Obama's offer of talks on its nuclear ambitions.Iran has been under months of pressure to accept US President Barack Obama's offer of talks on its nuclear ambitions.
Earlier this month, Tehran agreed to "comprehensive" talks on a range of security issues - but made no mention of its own nuclear programme.Earlier this month, Tehran agreed to "comprehensive" talks on a range of security issues - but made no mention of its own nuclear programme.
The talks are due to be held in Geneva on 1 October with Tehran and the five permanent UN Security Council members - US, UK, Russia, China and France - plus Germany.The talks are due to be held in Geneva on 1 October with Tehran and the five permanent UN Security Council members - US, UK, Russia, China and France - plus Germany.
Russia has signalled it might be prepared to soften its opposition to further sanctions against Iran, although China has said such pressure wound not be effective. Russia has signalled it might be prepared to soften its opposition to further sanctions against Iran, although China has said such pressure would not be effective.