Iran begins uranium enrichment at new site
Source: Agencies |
January 9, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Iran has begun uranium enrichment at a new underground site well protected from possible airstrikes, a leading newspaper reported yesterday.
Kayhan daily, which is close to Iran's ruling clerics, said Tehran has begun injecting uranium gas into sophisticated centrifuges at the Fordo facility near the holy city of Qom.
Iran is under UN sanctions for refusing to stop uranium enrichment - which can produce both nuclear fuel and fissile warhead material.
Tehran says it only seeks reactors for energy and research, and refuses to halt its uranium enrichment activities.
"Kayhan received reports Saturday that show Iran has begun uranium enrichment at the Fordo facility amid heightened foreign enemy threats," the paper said in a front-page report. Kayhan's manager is a representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has a major uranium enrichment facility in Natanz in central Iran where nearly 8,000 centrifuges are operating. Tehran began enrichment at Natanz in April 2006.
The Fordo centrifuges however are reportedly more efficient, and the site better shielded from aerial attack.
Built next to a military complex, Fordo was kept secret and was only acknowledged by Iran after it was identified by Western intelligence agencies in September 2009.
Both the US and Israel have not ruled out a military strike should Iran persist.
Tehran says it needs its enrichment program to produce fuel for future nuclear reactors.
Kayhan daily, which is close to Iran's ruling clerics, said Tehran has begun injecting uranium gas into sophisticated centrifuges at the Fordo facility near the holy city of Qom.
Iran is under UN sanctions for refusing to stop uranium enrichment - which can produce both nuclear fuel and fissile warhead material.
Tehran says it only seeks reactors for energy and research, and refuses to halt its uranium enrichment activities.
"Kayhan received reports Saturday that show Iran has begun uranium enrichment at the Fordo facility amid heightened foreign enemy threats," the paper said in a front-page report. Kayhan's manager is a representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has a major uranium enrichment facility in Natanz in central Iran where nearly 8,000 centrifuges are operating. Tehran began enrichment at Natanz in April 2006.
The Fordo centrifuges however are reportedly more efficient, and the site better shielded from aerial attack.
Built next to a military complex, Fordo was kept secret and was only acknowledged by Iran after it was identified by Western intelligence agencies in September 2009.
Both the US and Israel have not ruled out a military strike should Iran persist.
Tehran says it needs its enrichment program to produce fuel for future nuclear reactors.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
