This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-17041135
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Iran loads 'first domestically-made nuclear fuel' | Iran loads 'first domestically-made nuclear fuel' |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Iran has staged an elaborate ceremony to unveil new developments in its nuclear programme. | Iran has staged an elaborate ceremony to unveil new developments in its nuclear programme. |
| Tehran says it has used domestically-made nuclear fuel in a reactor for the first time, and also unveiled more efficient enrichment centrifuges. | Tehran says it has used domestically-made nuclear fuel in a reactor for the first time, and also unveiled more efficient enrichment centrifuges. |
| State TV showed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inspecting the rods as they were loaded into a reactor. | State TV showed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inspecting the rods as they were loaded into a reactor. |
| Western countries fear Iran wants to make nuclear weapons; Tehran says it only wants to produce its own energy. | Western countries fear Iran wants to make nuclear weapons; Tehran says it only wants to produce its own energy. |
| The government unveiled the "new generation" of faster, more efficient uranium enrichment centrifuges at its Natanz facility in the centre of the country. | The government unveiled the "new generation" of faster, more efficient uranium enrichment centrifuges at its Natanz facility in the centre of the country. |
| The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Fereydoon Abbasi Davani, said they were three times more efficient than their existing capacity. | The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Fereydoon Abbasi Davani, said they were three times more efficient than their existing capacity. |
| President Ahmadinejad was wearing a white coat at the research reactor in Tehran, and was also shown attending the ceremony to mark what he has called the great achievements in the nuclear sphere. | President Ahmadinejad was wearing a white coat at the research reactor in Tehran, and was also shown attending the ceremony to mark what he has called the great achievements in the nuclear sphere. |
| He said last week that his country would never halt its programme to enrich uranium. | He said last week that his country would never halt its programme to enrich uranium. |
| Home-grown industry | Home-grown industry |
| In January, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran had started the production of uranium enriched up to 20% at its Qom plant. | In January, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran had started the production of uranium enriched up to 20% at its Qom plant. |
| A deal to provide fuel for the reactor from abroad collapsed two years ago - at which point Iran decided to make the fuel itself. | A deal to provide fuel for the reactor from abroad collapsed two years ago - at which point Iran decided to make the fuel itself. |
| One central point links these developments, says the BBC's Iran correspondent James Reynolds: Iran is determined to show that it can master nuclear technology on its own, and that international sanctions against its nuclear programme will make no difference. | One central point links these developments, says the BBC's Iran correspondent James Reynolds: Iran is determined to show that it can master nuclear technology on its own, and that international sanctions against its nuclear programme will make no difference. |
| The US and the European Union have recently imposed new sanctions targeting Iranian oil sales as part of a drive to increase international pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme. | The US and the European Union have recently imposed new sanctions targeting Iranian oil sales as part of a drive to increase international pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme. |
| Meanwhile, Iran has written to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to offer to re-open talks with world powers on its nuclear programme. | |
| "We voice our readiness for dialogue on a spectrum of various issues which can provide ground for constructive and forward-looking cooperation," the letter from chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said, according to AP news agency. | |
| The Obama administration dismissed the move as erratic behaviour resulting from the squeeze caused by sanctions. EU officials have not yet commented. | |
| Talks between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China - on Tehran's nuclear programme collapsed a year ago. |