Iran begins uranium enrichment
09/02/2010 - 12:12:03Iran started enriching its uranium to a higher level today, according to state TV, defying the concerns of the international community.
The enrichment began after Iranian scientists injected 25kg of 3.5% enriched uranium gas into a cascade of centrifuges in a laboratory in Natanz, south of Tehran.
Iranian officials said inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency were present during the process.
Uranium has to be enriched to fuel nuclear power plants, and Tehran says it needs the 20% enriched fuel for a research reactor producing medical isotopes.
Enriching uranium to 90% can create material for atomic bombs, and the West fears Iran’s nuclear programme will be used to produce weapons. Iran denies the charge.
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