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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 taht 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 |
| 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. | 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. |
| ANALYSIS BBC World Affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds | ANALYSIS BBC World Affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 for electricity or, at higher levels of enrichment, for a bomb. | |
| Iran described it as a "pilot plant" under construction in its letter to Mr ElBaradei, received earlier this week, the newspaper reports. | 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. | 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. | 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. | It said work on the first of two production halls for centrifuges, Iran had previously told inspectors it was planning, was nearly complete. |
| IRAN'S NUCLEAR SITES Iran insists that all its nuclear facilities are for energy, not military purposesBushehr: Nuclear power plantIsfahan: Uranium conversion plantNatanz: Uranium enrichment plant, about 250km (150 miles) south of Tehran; contains 4,592 centrifuges, with a further 3,716 installedSecond enrichment plant: Existence revealed in a letter to the IAEA in September 2009. Separate reports say it is near the holy city of Qom, and not yet operationalArak: Heavy water plant Iran's key nuclear sites | IRAN'S NUCLEAR SITES Iran insists that all its nuclear facilities are for energy, not military purposesBushehr: Nuclear power plantIsfahan: Uranium conversion plantNatanz: Uranium enrichment plant, about 250km (150 miles) south of Tehran; contains 4,592 centrifuges, with a further 3,716 installedSecond enrichment plant: Existence revealed in a letter to the IAEA in September 2009. Separate reports say it is near the holy city of Qom, and not yet operationalArak: Heavy water plant Iran's key nuclear sites |
| 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. |
| President Obama has hinted at pursuing tougher sanctions against Tehran if progress over the crisis is not made. | |
| Russia recently signalled it might be prepared to soften its opposition to further sanctions against Iran, although China has said such pressure would not be effective. |