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Iran Announces Upgrade of Nuclear Enrichment Facility

February 13, 2013

by VOA News

Iran says it is upgrading some key equipment at its main uranium enrichment facility, a move that could cause further alarm as the international community tries to put the brakes on Iran's nuclear activities.

The head of Iran's nuclear energy organization, Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani, told state-run media Wednesday workers have begun installing a new generation of centrifuges at its Natanz facility.

The upgraded centrifuges are capable of producing highly-enriched uranium needed for nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

The announcement comes as United Nations investigators arrived in Iran for a new round of talks aimed at allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency access to the country's nuclear program.

Similar talks last month failed to produce any agreement but Tehran signaled on Tuesday it might allow inspectors to visit the Parchin military site, which Western nations suspect is being used for nuclear weapons development. Iran says it is a conventional military site.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told the U.N. Security Council Wednesday she is hopeful some progress can be made in talks with Iran planned for later this month.

"There is no doubt that the pressure of sanctions has been instrumental in bringing Iran back to the negotiating table," Ashton said. "But sanctions cannot be an end in themselves. The key is for Iran to comply fully with its international obligations."

Ashton has been coordinating talks between world powers and Iran. The next round of talks between the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany and Iran is scheduled for February 26 in Kazakhstan.

The United Nations Security Council has demanded Iran suspend all enrichment-related activities and give U.N. inspectors access to its nuclear facilities.

Also Wednesday, the International Energy Agency said it estimates Iran lost $40 billion in oil revenue last year, following sanctions by the United States and the European Union meant to pressure Iran for its nuclear activity.