7 Feb 2010 13:14
Ahmadinejad orders to start enriching uranium to 20% source : Afghan Voice Agency(AVA) |
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday ordered the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to start work on enriching uranium to a purity of 20 percent, IRNA reported.
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However, Ahmadinejad said Iran is still ready for exchange of nuclear fuel with world powers, the report said.
The Iranian president made the announcement in his speech at an exhibition of Iran's laser technology achievements, which was also attended by AEOI chief Ali Akbar Salehi, who is also Iran's vice president.
"Mr. Salehi, you start 20 percent enrichment and at the same time we are ready to negotiate for the exchange of fuel," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.
Ahmadinejad's remarks came just two days after Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that Tehran hoped to reach a uranium transfer deal with world powers in near future.
Tehran "is serious about" reaching an agreement with the international community over Iran's access to enriched uranium, Mottaki told a discussion panel at the annual Munich security conference on Friday.
He said he expected that a deal could be reached in the "not too distant future."
However, the United States and Germany said on Saturday they saw no sign of Iranian concessions on its nuclear program and might opt for added pressure.
The Iranian president made the announcement in his speech at an exhibition of Iran's laser technology achievements, which was also attended by AEOI chief Ali Akbar Salehi, who is also Iran's vice president.
"Mr. Salehi, you start 20 percent enrichment and at the same time we are ready to negotiate for the exchange of fuel," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.
Ahmadinejad's remarks came just two days after Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that Tehran hoped to reach a uranium transfer deal with world powers in near future.
Tehran "is serious about" reaching an agreement with the international community over Iran's access to enriched uranium, Mottaki told a discussion panel at the annual Munich security conference on Friday.
He said he expected that a deal could be reached in the "not too distant future."
However, the United States and Germany said on Saturday they saw no sign of Iranian concessions on its nuclear program and might opt for added pressure.
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