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Iran sets new nuclear challenge Iran sets new nuclear challenge
(10 minutes later)
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has asked the country's nuclear chief to begin enriching uranium to 20%.Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has asked the country's nuclear chief to begin enriching uranium to 20%.
He made the announcement a day after Western scepticism at Iran's earlier claim that a deal to swap enriched uranium for nuclear fuel was close. The move comes amid a worsening stand-off over a Western offer for Iran to swap enriched uranium for nuclear fuel.
The US and European Union said they were unconvinced and Iran must make a meaningful offer or face new sanctions. The West fears Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons - and have threatened new sanctions. Iran insists its programme is peaceful.
Western countries fear Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. But Tehran insists its programme is peaceful. The US defence secretary urged the world to "stand together", saying there was still time for sanctions to work.
Civilian nuclear power requires uranium enriched to about 3%, but weapons grade uranium needs to be enriched to 90%. "Pressures that are focused on the government of Iran, as opposed to the people of Iran, potentially have greater opportunity to achieve the objective," Robert Gates said during a visit to Italy.
Challenge In January, diplomats said Iran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it did not accept the terms of the deal agreed in October by Iran, the IAEA and the P5+1 - the US, Russia, China, UK and France plus Germany.
Mr Ahmadinejad made the announcement on Iranian state television. Earlier this week, the US, Britain and France circulated a discussion paper on further possible sanctions against Tehran.
"I had said let us give them [Western powers] two to three months, and if they don't agree, we would start ourselves," he said in a speech broadcast live. But China says the P5+1 must remain patient and keep pursuing a diplomatic solution to the issue.
Red line
Mr Ahmadinejad made the announcement on Iranian state television - two days after his foreign minister said a deal on swapping enriched uranium for nuclear fuel was close - a claim greeted with scepticism by Western powers.
"I had said let us give them [Western powers] two to three months, and if they don't agree, we would start ourselves," Mr Ahmadinejad said in a speech broadcast live.
"Now Dr [Ali Akbar] Salehi, start to make the 20% with the centrifuges," the president said, addressing Iran's nuclear chief who was sitting in the audience at a laser technology plant in Tehran."Now Dr [Ali Akbar] Salehi, start to make the 20% with the centrifuges," the president said, addressing Iran's nuclear chief who was sitting in the audience at a laser technology plant in Tehran.
I believe there is still time for sanctions and pressure to work Robert GatesUS Defence Secretary NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE Mined uranium ore is purified and reconstituted into solid form known as yellowcakeYellowcake is chemically processed and converted into Uranium Hexafluoride gasGas is fed through centrifuges, where its isotopes separate and process is repeated until uranium is enrichedLow-level enriched uranium is used for nuclear fuelHighly enriched uranium can be used in nuclear weapons class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/05/nuclear_fuel/html/mining.stm">In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8495086.stm">Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue
But he added: "The doors for interaction are still open." Civilian nuclear power requires uranium enriched to about 3%. Weapons grade uranium needs to be enriched to 90%.
The BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne, reporting from London, says Mr Ahmadinejad's announcement crosses a significant red line.The BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne, reporting from London, says Mr Ahmadinejad's announcement crosses a significant red line.
Iranians want to supply a research reactor with highly enriched uranium following the breakdown of the international deal to provide fuel for it. Iran says it wants to supply a research reactor with highly enriched uranium following the breakdown of the international deal to provide fuel for it.
But some Western analysts say Iran does not possess the technical know-how to make fuel rods for the reactor, our correspondent says, and Western countries fear this could be a stepping stone towards the manufacture of weapons-grade material.But some Western analysts say Iran does not possess the technical know-how to make fuel rods for the reactor, our correspondent says, and Western countries fear this could be a stepping stone towards the manufacture of weapons-grade material.
At the very least, this is a provocative act which will make negotiations more difficult, our correspondent says.At the very least, this is a provocative act which will make negotiations more difficult, our correspondent says.
And US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday that the international community must come together to bring pressure on the Iranian government to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE Mined uranium ore is purified and reconstituted into solid form known as yellowcakeYellowcake is chemically processed and converted into Uranium Hexafluoride gasGas is fed through centrifuges, where its isotopes separate and process is repeated until uranium is enrichedLow-level enriched uranium is used for nuclear fuelHighly enriched uranium can be used in nuclear weapons In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue
"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," Mr Gates said during a visit to Italy.
"Pressures that are focused on the government of Iran, as opposed to the people of Iran, potentially have greater opportunity to achieve the objective," he said.
In January, diplomats said Iran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it did not accept the terms of the deal agreed in October by Iran, the IAEA and the P5+1 - the US, Russia, China, UK and France plus Germany.
In response, the US, Britain and France have been pressing for more sanctions and earlier this week circulated a discussion paper on further possible measures against the country.
But China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told the Munich conference that the P5+1 should remain patient and keep pursuing a diplomatic solution to the issue.
Existing UN sanctions are meant to prevent the flow of any items or technology which might aid Iran in enriching uranium or developing nuclear weapon delivery systems.Existing UN sanctions are meant to prevent the flow of any items or technology which might aid Iran in enriching uranium or developing nuclear weapon delivery systems.
The sanctions range from actual sales or supplies to dealings with named individuals.The sanctions range from actual sales or supplies to dealings with named individuals.