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Iran leader denies nuclear claims Iran leader denies nuclear claims
(about 3 hours later)
Iran's supreme leader has denied it is developing nuclear weapons, after a new report from the UN atomic watchdog, the IAEA, sparked an international outcry.Iran's supreme leader has denied it is developing nuclear weapons, after a new report from the UN atomic watchdog, the IAEA, sparked an international outcry.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the outcry was "baseless" as Iranians' beliefs "bar us from using such weapons". Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said any fears were "baseless" as Iranians' beliefs "bar us from using such weapons".
The blunt report raised concerns Iran was working on nuclear weapons.The blunt report raised concerns Iran was working on nuclear weapons.
Germany said the report "confirms our great concerns", while the US warned Iran it faced consequences if it failed to meet international responsibilities. Russia said it was "very alarmed" over the report while the US warned Iran it faced consequences if it failed to meet international responsibilities.
Moscow said Iran must co-operate more actively with the International Atomic Energy Agency to convince the world its programme was peaceful. According to the unusually forthright report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran's level of co-operation with the agency was decreasing, adding to concerns about "possible military dimensions" to its nuclear programme.
But Ayatollah Khamenei countered: "We do not believe in atomic weapons and are not seeking that." Secret plant
Britain and Germany both said the report reinforced their "great concerns" about Iran's enrichment of uranium and other nuclear activities.
Enriched uranium can be used to fuel nuclear power plants. Very highly enriched uranium can be made into atomic bombs.
URANIUM ENRICHMENT Iran says it is increasing uranium enrichment from 3.5% needed for commercial nuclear reactorsIran says it has started enriching to 20%, needed for a medical research reactor near TehranWeapons-grade uranium is at least 90% enrichedExperts say achieving 20% is a key step towards weapons grade In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle Q&A: Iran nuclear issue
"This most recent report notes that as well as ignoring the requests for information about possible military dimension of their programme, Iran built a secret enrichment plant in Qom, and Iran enriched uranium up to 20% despite the [IAEA] telling them not to do so," said a statement from Britain's Foreign Office.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a radio interview: "We are very alarmed and we cannot accept this, that Iran is refusing to co-operate with the IAEA."
But Ayatollah Khamenei countered: "The West's accusations are baseless because our religious beliefs bar us from using such weapons.
"We do not believe in atomic weapons and are not seeking that," he was quoted as saying by Iranian media.
Iran has always maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful.Iran has always maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
The US and other Western nations fear it is enriching uranium for nuclear weapons.The US and other Western nations fear it is enriching uranium for nuclear weapons.
Another matter of concern from the UN report is that Iran has moved its stockpile of enriched uranium from below ground to a site above ground, says the BBC's Tehran correspondent, Jon Leyne, who is in London.
This has led to a rise to speculation that some factions in Tehran would almost welcome a military strike, in order to help them to stay in power, he says.
Meanwhile, Iran launched its first domestically built destroyer, reportedly equipped with sophisticated radar, anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles as well as torpedoes and naval guns.Meanwhile, Iran launched its first domestically built destroyer, reportedly equipped with sophisticated radar, anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles as well as torpedoes and naval guns.
Reports said the new 1,500-tonne guided missile destroyer, Jamaran, would be deployed in the Gulf.Reports said the new 1,500-tonne guided missile destroyer, Jamaran, would be deployed in the Gulf.
'Declining co-operation' Sanctions pressure
According to the unusually forthright report by the IAEA, Iran's level of co-operation with the agency was decreasing.
Germany said Iran's failure to comply with UN wishes over its nuclear programme was forcing the international community to pursue further sanctions against Tehran.Germany said Iran's failure to comply with UN wishes over its nuclear programme was forcing the international community to pursue further sanctions against Tehran.
URANIUM ENRICHMENT Iran says it is increasing uranium enrichment from 3.5% needed for commercial nuclear reactorsIran says it has started enriching to 20%, needed for a medical research reactor near TehranWeapons-grade uranium is at least 90% enrichedExperts say achieving 20% is a key step towards weapons grade 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 nuclear issue Germany is one of six nations negotiating with Iran over its nuclear programme, along with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, the US, France, Britain and China. US officials said that while the report showed Iran had technical difficulties, its IAEA co-operation was declining.
"The persistent defiance... of United Nations resolutions and Tehran's continuation of a dangerous nuclear policy are forcing the international community to pursue further comprehensive sanctions," said a government spokesman The IAEA report was unusually blunt
US officials said that while the report showed Iran had technical difficulties, its IAEA co-operation was declining.
Senior administration officials in Washington said Iran's pattern of behaviour was "disturbing".Senior administration officials in Washington said Iran's pattern of behaviour was "disturbing".
One official said Iran's statements that its nuclear programme was peaceful were becoming less credible, adding that it was becoming clear this was a country seeking nuclear weapons.One official said Iran's statements that its nuclear programme was peaceful were becoming less credible, adding that it was becoming clear this was a country seeking nuclear weapons.
A senior Obama administration official said the report shows that there were "serious technical difficulties that are slowing down the nuclear clock".
The US is keen for the UN Security Council to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Iran.The US is keen for the UN Security Council to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Iran.
"We always said that if Iran failed to live up to those international obligations, that there would be consequences," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said."We always said that if Iran failed to live up to those international obligations, that there would be consequences," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
Russia's foreign ministry, meanwhile, said: "Tehran must be more active in its co-operation with the IAEA and widen it."
In response to the report, Tehran said it "confirmed Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and the country's non-deviation towards military purposes," according to the state news agency, Irna.In response to the report, Tehran said it "confirmed Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and the country's non-deviation towards military purposes," according to the state news agency, Irna.
New directorNew director
The IAEA report will be discussed by the agency's 35-country board at a meeting between 1-5 March.The IAEA report will be discussed by the agency's 35-country board at a meeting between 1-5 March.
The IAEA report was unusually blunt
This is the first IAEA report on Iran compiled under its new director general, Yukiya Amano.This is the first IAEA report on Iran compiled under its new director general, Yukiya Amano.
The report says its information was "consistent and credible in terms of the technical detail, the timeframe in which the activities were conducted and the people and organisations involved".The report says its information was "consistent and credible in terms of the technical detail, the timeframe in which the activities were conducted and the people and organisations involved".
The report said: "Altogether this raises concerns about the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile." It says: "Altogether this raises concerns about the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile."
The report says it is vital Iran co-operates with IAEA investigators "without further delay" as its resistance added to concerns "about possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme". The report also urges Iran co-operates with IAEA investigators "without further delay" as its resistance added to concerns "about possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme".
Uranium enrichment
The IAEA report contradicts a US intelligence report from 2007 that stated Iran had stopped its nuclear research in 2003 and probably not resumed it.
US officials declined to comment on whether the latest IAEA report makes the US report even more out of step with current thinking.
One official said he was waiting for the US intelligence community to put out a new report.
The report also confirmed that Iran had begun enriching uranium to higher 20% levels.
Until now, Iran has produced uranium enriched to 3.5% for power stations, but it says it needs the more highly enriched uranium for a reactor producing medical isotopes.
Western powers fear Iran is heading towards enriching uranium to 90% - to produce a nuclear weapon.