Defying Sanctions Threat, Iran Starts Enriching Uranium

(Feb. 9) – After weeks of mixed signals and with sanctions against it looming, Iran says it has begun producing higher-grade nuclear fuel for a research reactor – in defiance of the West, which suspects Tehran of trying to build a nuclear bomb.

The process began early this morning in the presence of U.N. inspectors at Iran's Natanz plant, Iran's state-run Arabic language TV channel, Al-Alam, reported. The announcement was then picked up by several other news agencies.

Iran has said it intends to enrich its low-grade 3.5 percent uranium to a more potent concentration, 20 percent, and today's announcement appears to be a follow-through on that promise.

The 20 percent potency is what's needed to fuel a nuclear reactor to yield isotopes for medical use. But the West fears that if Iran practices the technology needed to up its uranium to that level, it could continue to process it to even higher concentrations for use in a nuclear bomb. A concentration of more than 80 percent is needed for a weapon.

Today's announcement comes after weeks of mixed signals from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has alternately threatened to begin enriching uranium to a higher grade but at one point also said he was willing to ship Iran's low-grade uranium abroad for enrichment, likely in Russia or France. Those countries would have then returned the processed fuel to Iran, in an effort to prevent Tehran from acquiring the technology needed to complete the process on its own.

That plan had been proposed by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). But today's announcement shows Iran has decided to handle the enrichment process itself – in defiance of the U.S. and its allies, who believe Tehran's fuel is not for peaceful medical or power-generating means, but for use in a weapon.

Still, there were small and cryptic signs Iran sought to leave a door open to cooperation with the West. The head of Iran's atomic agency said late Monday that it would halt its own enrichment if the West provides the fuel needed for a research reactor. "Whenever they provide the fuel, we will halt production of 20 percent," Ali Akbar Salehi told state television.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman echoed that today, telling reporters that "if other countries or the agency (IAEA) could provide the fuel, our attitude could be different."

All of this comes as the West moves closer to slapping a fourth round of U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran, to punish the country for moving ahead with its disputed nuclear program.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said such sanctions should be applied to Iran in "weeks, not months," according to a Fox News interview transcript released today. On Monday, France said it had no choice to push harder for sanctions, and a senior lawmaker in Russia, which in the past has urged talks rather than punishment, also said economic measures should be considered.

Of the five Security Council members with veto power, only China remains opposed – so far – to sanctions. Its Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ma Zhaoxu, told a news conference in Beijing today that more talks on Iran are needed. "I hope the relevant parties will step up efforts and push for progress in the dialogue and negotiations," he said.

Iran is one of the world's biggest oil suppliers, especially to China's fast-growing economy. It's unclear what leverage Washington has in persuading Beijing to join the call for sanctions. Plus, U.S.-China relations are already on shaky ground, after disputes over trade, Internet freedom, an American arms deal to Taiwan and President Barack Obama's likely upcoming visit with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Possible targets for any new sanctions include Iran's central bank, its energy sector, shipping firms, or the Revolutionary Guards, an elite military branch thought to be key to Iran's nuclear program.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, told reporters today that sanctions would be a "mistake."
"If they attempt another resolution, they are making a mistake. It is not helpful in resolving the nuclear dispute between Iran and the West," Mehmanparast said in comments carried by several news agencies. "They are completely wrong if they think our people will go back even a single step."