Iran to process weapons grade uranium

Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 February 2010 23:38 Monday, 08 February 2010 21:23

The mask if off. Iran has notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it is to begin enriching uranium to a level suitable for nuclear weapons. The news is being greeted in the west as proof that Iran was never serious all along about it's previous statements and commitments and that it's intention is to produce a nuclear weapon.

Ali Akbar Salehi

Iran says it will begin the process of high-enrichment of uranium, meaning it would be close to the 90% enrichment level required for nuclear weapons. A deal had been in place that would see Iran swap low level uranium for 20% uranium manufactured in France. President Ahmadinejad announced last week that Iran was happy with this deal and would sign it. Now, not even seven days later, the news that Iran is going it alone and seeking to manufacture it's own weapons grade uranium is causing panic among western governments. Tehran's atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi said that process could begin as early as next Tuesday (8th February).

Amid calls for increased and tighter sanctions on Iran from the west, China has predictably called for more talks with Iran saying results could still be achieved by negotiations - despite Iran blowing months of negotiations with the UN out of the water with it's announcement.

A resolution at the UN Security Council looks unlikely with China blocking it. Russia has been changing it's stance on Iran of late, and yesterday called for Iran to abide by the deal and engage in the UN uranium swap deal.

Robert Gates, US Defense Secretary said “We have to face the reality that if Iran continues and develops nuclear weapons it almost certainly will provoke nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. This is a huge danger.” Today, Gates was visiting France and went even further saying that sanctions on Iran are designed to prevent the need for military action. The question on everybody's lips is what happens when those sanctions fail - as they have done and continue to do?