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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tehran 'steps up nuclear drive' | Tehran 'steps up nuclear drive' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Iran has announced immediate plans to step up its nuclear programme, which Western nations fear could be used to make a bomb. | Iran has announced immediate plans to step up its nuclear programme, which Western nations fear could be used to make a bomb. |
| Its nuclear chief said Iran would start enriching uranium to 20% from Tuesday, and that 10 new uranium enrichment plants would be built in the next year. | Its nuclear chief said Iran would start enriching uranium to 20% from Tuesday, and that 10 new uranium enrichment plants would be built in the next year. |
| Ali Akbar Salehi said the enrichment would take place at Natanz, Iran's main uranium enrichment plant. | Ali Akbar Salehi said the enrichment would take place at Natanz, Iran's main uranium enrichment plant. |
| The move heightens fears Iran is moving closer to weapons-grade uranium. | The move heightens fears Iran is moving closer to weapons-grade uranium. |
| It comes amid growing tension with the West, which has criticised Iran for stalling on a deal over its enrichment programme. | It comes amid growing tension with the West, which has criticised Iran for stalling on a deal over its enrichment programme. |
| The latest development comes days before Iran celebrates the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution, which is expected to see pro- and anti-government demonstrations. | The latest development comes days before Iran celebrates the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution, which is expected to see pro- and anti-government demonstrations. |
| Almost by the day, Iran is stepping up the pace of its nuclear confrontation with the West, says the BBC's Tehran correspondent, Jon Leyne. | Almost by the day, Iran is stepping up the pace of its nuclear confrontation with the West, says the BBC's Tehran correspondent, Jon Leyne. |
| But if the aim is to have all 10 new plants running in a year, then it is almost laughably ambitious as it has taken many years to get Natanz, the first plant, running and it still has problems, he adds. | But if the aim is to have all 10 new plants running in a year, then it is almost laughably ambitious as it has taken many years to get Natanz, the first plant, running and it still has problems, he adds. |
| This flurry of announcements reflects the turmoil faced by President Ahmadinejad's government ahead of the anniversary, our correspondent says. | This flurry of announcements reflects the turmoil faced by President Ahmadinejad's government ahead of the anniversary, our correspondent says. |
| Witnesses say the situation in the Iranian capital Tehran is increasingly tense, with a series of checkpoints already set up across the city. | Witnesses say the situation in the Iranian capital Tehran is increasingly tense, with a series of checkpoints already set up across the city. |
| 'Very disappointing' | |
| Speaking on Sunday evening, Mr Salehi said he would inform the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), of the enrichment plan in a formal letter on Monday. | |
| However, he added that production would be halted if Iran received fuel enriched to 20% from abroad. | |
| The country earlier appeared ready to exchange its low-enriched uranium for higher-grade foreign fuel but wanted changes to a UN-drafted plan. | |
| "Iran would halt its enrichment process for the Tehran research reactor any time it receives the necessary fuel for it," Mr Salehi said. | |
| No time frame was given for the 10 new plants, but the Iranian new year begins on 21 March. | |
| Iran currently enriches uranium to a level of 3.5%. The kind of uranium needed for a bomb would have to be enriched to at least 90%. | |
| News of the enrichment move, which was ordered by President Ahmadinejad on Sunday, alarmed diplomats in London and Washington. | |
| A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said the report was "clearly a matter of serious concern", while US Defence Secretary Robert Gates called for further "international pressure" on Iran. | |
| "The international community has offered the Iranian government multiple opportunities to provide reassurance of its intentions," he said on a visit to Rome. | |
| "The results have been very disappointing." | |
| He added that he believed there was "still time for sanctions and pressure to work" if the international community united on the issue. |