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| Iran 'may boost nuclear programme', diplomat warns | Iran 'may boost nuclear programme', diplomat warns |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Iran may be poised to expand its nuclear programme at an underground site near the city of Qom, a Vienna-based diplomat has told the BBC. | Iran may be poised to expand its nuclear programme at an underground site near the city of Qom, a Vienna-based diplomat has told the BBC. |
| It appears to be ready to install thousands of new-generation centrifuges at the fortified underground plant, the diplomat said. | It appears to be ready to install thousands of new-generation centrifuges at the fortified underground plant, the diplomat said. |
| They could speed up the production of enriched uranium - required for both power generation and nuclear weapons. | They could speed up the production of enriched uranium - required for both power generation and nuclear weapons. |
| The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, has not commented. | The United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, has not commented. |
| Its inspectors are due to visit Tehran this week for another round of talks on Iran's nuclear activities. | Its inspectors are due to visit Tehran this week for another round of talks on Iran's nuclear activities. |
| Iran says its nuclear work is for purely peaceful purposes, but Western countries express fears that Iran is secretly trying to develop a nuclear bomb. | Iran says its nuclear work is for purely peaceful purposes, but Western countries express fears that Iran is secretly trying to develop a nuclear bomb. |
| Tensions rise | |
| This is another warning that Iran may be stepping up its controversial nuclear work, despite increasing international sanctions, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna. | This is another warning that Iran may be stepping up its controversial nuclear work, despite increasing international sanctions, says the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna. |
| According to other accounts by diplomats requesting anonymity, the Qom facility now contains the electrical circuitry, piping and supporting equipment required for the new centrifuges - though they add that the centrifuges have not yet been fitted and there is no certainty about if and when they will. | |
| Three days ago, Iran itself said it had advanced its nuclear know-how, including developing centrifuges able to enrich uranium faster. | |
| The developments come against the backdrop of rising tensions over the issue. | |
| On Saturday, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague warned Iran's nuclear ambitions could trigger a nuclear arms race in the region - where at present the only country believed to possess such weapons is Israel. | |
| Speaking in Tokyo on Saturday, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak called for sanctions on Iran to be tightened still further. | |
| Israel has accusing Iran of masterminding attacks on its embassies in India, Thailand and Georgia. Iran denies the allegations. |