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| Iran enriching uranium at Fordo plant near Qom | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Iran has begun uranium enrichment at a heavily fortified site near the holy city of Qom, the UN has confirmed. | Iran has begun uranium enrichment at a heavily fortified site near the holy city of Qom, the UN has confirmed. |
| The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - the UN's nuclear watchdog - said the process had begun at the underground Fordo plant. | The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - the UN's nuclear watchdog - said the process had begun at the underground Fordo plant. |
| Iran says it plans to carry out medium-level uranium enrichment - which, say analysts, is an important step towards making it weapons-grade. | Iran says it plans to carry out medium-level uranium enrichment - which, say analysts, is an important step towards making it weapons-grade. |
| Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful energy purposes. | Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful energy purposes. |
| The existence of Fordo in the north of the country only came to light after it was identified by Western intelligence agencies in September 2009. | |
| Tehran said it began the project in 2007, but the IAEA believes design work started there in 2006. | |
| BBC Iran correspondent James Reynolds says the facility has attracted plenty of attention and suspicion. | |
| It is underground, heavily-fortified and protected by the armed forces - making it a very difficult target for air strikes. | It is underground, heavily-fortified and protected by the armed forces - making it a very difficult target for air strikes. |
| The US and Israel have refused to rule out attacks on Iranian facilities. | The US and Israel have refused to rule out attacks on Iranian facilities. |
| On Monday IAEA spokesperson Gill Tudor said in a statement tha the agency could "confirm that Iran has started the production of uranium enriched up to 20%". | |
| She added that "all nuclear material in the facility remains under the agency's containment and surveillance". | |
| 'Falsely accused' | |
| Earlier on Monday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted Iran would not bow to pressure from the West. | |
| Iran's new facility began in secret. The state may have preferred to keep it that way. But in September 2009 the US, France and the UK publicly revealed its existence - a fact that was subsequently confirmed by Iran. | Iran's new facility began in secret. The state may have preferred to keep it that way. But in September 2009 the US, France and the UK publicly revealed its existence - a fact that was subsequently confirmed by Iran. |
| Since then, the new plant has attracted plenty of both attention and suspicion. It has been built underground and it is heavily fortified. In particular, Iran appears to want to guard against potential air strikes. Military experts suggest that the facility may be able to survive attack from all but the most powerful bombs. | Since then, the new plant has attracted plenty of both attention and suspicion. It has been built underground and it is heavily fortified. In particular, Iran appears to want to guard against potential air strikes. Military experts suggest that the facility may be able to survive attack from all but the most powerful bombs. |
| Iranian officials suggest that the new plant is an important step forward for the country's nuclear programme. But it is not yet clear how productive the facility will be. Iran says it hopes to carry out what's known as medium-level uranium enrichment at the plant - uranium enriched to 20%. | Iranian officials suggest that the new plant is an important step forward for the country's nuclear programme. But it is not yet clear how productive the facility will be. Iran says it hopes to carry out what's known as medium-level uranium enrichment at the plant - uranium enriched to 20%. |
| Western analysts warn that medium-level enrichment is an important step towards enriching uranium to weapons-grade. But Iran stresses that its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful. | Western analysts warn that medium-level enrichment is an important step towards enriching uranium to weapons-grade. But Iran stresses that its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful. |
| "The Islamic establishment... knows firmly what it is doing and has chosen its path and will stay the course," he said in a speech broadcast on state television. | "The Islamic establishment... knows firmly what it is doing and has chosen its path and will stay the course," he said in a speech broadcast on state television. |
| Tensions have been high since the US said it would impose new sanctions on Iran's central bank and the European Union said it would impose an embargo on Iran's oil exports over Tehran's nuclear programme. | Tensions have been high since the US said it would impose new sanctions on Iran's central bank and the European Union said it would impose an embargo on Iran's oil exports over Tehran's nuclear programme. |
| Ayatollah Khamenei said further sanctions would "not have any impact on our nation". | Ayatollah Khamenei said further sanctions would "not have any impact on our nation". |
| But Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz - a key route from the Gulf through which 20% of the world's traded oil passes. | But Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz - a key route from the Gulf through which 20% of the world's traded oil passes. |
| Defence Secretary Leon Panetta warned on Sunday that such a move would cross a "red line" and "we would take action and reopen the strait." | Defence Secretary Leon Panetta warned on Sunday that such a move would cross a "red line" and "we would take action and reopen the strait." |
| Adding to the strains, a court in Tehran on Monday sentenced to death an Iranian-American man accused of being a CIA spy. | Adding to the strains, a court in Tehran on Monday sentenced to death an Iranian-American man accused of being a CIA spy. |
| Amir Mirzai Hekmati, 28, a former US marine, had been show on state television in December allegedly confessing to being part of a plot to infiltrate Iran's intelligence services for the CIA. | Amir Mirzai Hekmati, 28, a former US marine, had been show on state television in December allegedly confessing to being part of a plot to infiltrate Iran's intelligence services for the CIA. |
| Our correspondent says Iran's judicial and political systems place huge emphasis on the importance of confessions, however, they are viewed with concern by human rights groups who fear they could be coerced. | Our correspondent says Iran's judicial and political systems place huge emphasis on the importance of confessions, however, they are viewed with concern by human rights groups who fear they could be coerced. |
| Mr Hekmati's family, who live in Arizona, say the charges against him are fabricated and that he was in Iran to visit his grandmothers. | Mr Hekmati's family, who live in Arizona, say the charges against him are fabricated and that he was in Iran to visit his grandmothers. |
| The US has demanded his release, saying he has been "falsely accused". | The US has demanded his release, saying he has been "falsely accused". |