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| Iran leader denies nuclear claims | Iran leader denies nuclear claims |
| (19 minutes 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 any fears were "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. |
| Russia said it was "very alarmed" over the report 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Secret plant | Secret plant |
| Britain and Germany both said the report reinforced their "great concerns" about Iran's enrichment of uranium and other nuclear activities. | 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. | 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 What the IAEA report says In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle Q&A: Iran nuclear issue | 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 What the IAEA report says 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. | "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." | 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. | 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. | "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. |
| 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. |
| Sanctions pressure | Sanctions pressure |
| 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. |
| 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 IAEA report was unusually blunt | The IAEA report was unusually blunt |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 director | New 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. |
| 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". |
| 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." | 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 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". | 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". |