Nuclear: Iran to Step-Up Uranium Enrichment, Reports

Adnkronos International:

The Iranian government has decided to continue the process of uranium enrichment. Arabic satellite TV network Al Jazeera and the Reuters newsagency are quoting diplomats as saying Iran will process a new batch of uranium at its Isfahan site next week, flouting efforts by the United States and the European Union to halt Tehran's nuclear activities. The news came as a group of inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog visited the military site of Parchin, 30 kilometres from Tehran. The aim of the visit was to avoid Iran being referred to the UN Security Council because of its failure to cooperate. READ MORE

Iran had frozen all work at Isfahan late last year under a deal with France, Britain and Germany but resumed work in August after Tehran rejected an EU offer of trade and other incentives in exchange for a cessation of fuel work and resumed uranium conversion, which is a precursor to enrichment work.

"Beginning next week, the Iranians will start a new phase of uranium conversion at Isfahan. They will begin feeding a new batch of uranium into the plant," a European diplomat familiar with the result of inspections of the U.N. nuclear watchdog told Reuters on condition of anonymity.