Iran took a step towards nuclear self-sufficiency today, using locally mined uranium for the first time in an act of defiance to the west on the eve of the resumption of talks over its atomic programme.
The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran announced it had used domestically produced uranium yellowcake (refined ore) at its conversion plant in Isfahan. The mining and milling of uranium ore is not banned by UN resolutions (which focus on uranium enrichment), but one of the ways the international community has sought to close down Iran's nuclear programme is to stop it importing yellowcake.
Today's announcement appeared to a signal that such measures would not stop Iran pursuing its nuclear ambitions. For the time being, however, it is little more than a symbolic step as Iran's ore deposits are mostly low grade and its capacity to produce yellowcake is limited.
The timing of the announcement is unlikely to be accidental, observers said, coming the day before Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, is due to meet diplomats from six major powers in Geneva, to resume a dialogue over Iran's ambitions after a break of 14 months. ....
... The regime has shown no sign of making concessions over the central issue – UN demands for Iran to suspend its enrichment of uranium. Tehran insists the programme is for entirely peaceful means, and portrays the UN sanctions against it as an attempt to deny its sovereign rights.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Guardian: Iran unveils use of locally mined uranium for first time
Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation reveals use of domestically produced refined ore in defiance of the west, as reported by The Guardian in an article this evening:
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Some articles from Greenpeace relating to Iran's use of locally mined uranium: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/nuclear-news-iran-unveils-use-of-locally-mine/blog/29275
ReplyDeleteInteresting. It also suggests that the UN is outdated! This is because even though Iran is not a member you would think angering a world organisation would not be encouraged, however the UN only seems to have a veneer of power with very few of its members inclined to get involved in other nations' issues. The Security Council members I believe can get the UN involved in some countries which are infringing human rights, such as Zimbabwe, however they choose not to. Perhaps it is time there was a big shake up of the UN or it gets scrapped all together!
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