- The Media Line - https://themedialine.org -

‘Iran Expanding Enrichment Activity’

Iran is testing new equipment related to the nuclear cycle, diplomats said on Monday.
 
Iran is preparing a new batch of 164 interconnected centrifuges, which can be used to enrich uranium for making nuclear energy or for creating weapons-grade uranium, they said.
 
Iran has been under international scrutiny since 2002 over its controversial nuclear program, which Iran insists is intended for peaceful purposes.
 
Iran appears to only be testing the centrifuges while they are empty, without feeding UF6 Uranium gas into them, to assess their durability, said the diplomats, who are reportedly connected with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
 
Washington wants the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions on Iran, but observers say the formulation of a resolution may be toned down in order to appease Russia and China, both of which are permanent members of the Security Council.
 
Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad said on Monday that his country was adamant about pursuing its current path in the field of nuclear energy, despite what he called intentions of the enemies to block Iran’s access to technology “through intensive political pressures and propaganda.”