IAEA Sees Iran Gaining on Nuclear Program
15 May 2007
Inspectors for the International Atomic Energy Agency say Iran is beginning to enrich uranium on a much larger scale after solving most of its technical problems.
Nuclear experts and diplomatic sources in Vienna say inspectors have found that Iran is already using about 1,300 centrifuges and producing fuel suitable for nuclear reactors.
They say inspectors from the IAEA carried out a short-notice inspection of Iran's main nuclear facility at Natanz on Sunday, in advance of a report to the United Nations Security Council, which is due next week.
The U.N. Security Council has given Iran until May 23 to stop enriching uranium - a process that can be used to make nuclear weapons.
IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei says that Iran "pretty much has the knowledge about how to enrich."
The Security Council has already imposed limited sanctions on Iran for ignoring its earlier resolutions.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who have been holding talks on the issue, are expected to meet again later this month.
The United States and its allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program. Iran denies the charge.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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