Uranium Stakes Raised

Reuters, Herald Sun:

Iran will process a new batch of uranium at its Isfahan atomic plant next week as it begins a purge of reformist ambassadors from posts worldwide. Accused by Western nations of running a covert atomic weapons program, Iran had frozen work at Isfahan late last year under a deal with France, Britain and Germany. But it resumed work at the plant in August, prompting the EU's three biggest powers to suspend talks with the Islamic republic.

"Beginning next week, the Iranians will start a new phase of uranium conversion at Isfahan," a European diplomat familiar with the result of inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog said. READ MORE

"They will begin feeding a new batch of uranium into the plant."

A Western diplomat close to the International Atomic Energy Agency said he was unable to give details on how much uranium used at the plant.

The move comes after Iran's hardline Government announced the removal of 40 ambassadors and senior diplomats, including supporters of warmer ties with the West.

The recalls are part of a wide-scale purge that has pushed reformists out of key security ministries, including London, Paris, Berlin, Beijing, Rome, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Delhi, Baghdad and UN missions in Geneva and New York.

The purges are the biggest shake-up of Iran's Government in more than 20 years.

They change the nation's policy directions on the global stage and at home as it takes a more confrontational stance over its nuclear program.

The moves also give President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's new ultraconservative Government the chance to remove pro-reform and liberal-minded figures appointed by the last president, moderate Mohammad Khatami, and install its own supporters.