Iran declares nuclear ’self-sufficiency’ ahead of talks


TOI, 05-12-2010 21:12:01


Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print


TEHRAN: Iran said Sunday it has produced a first batch of uranium yellowcake, the raw material for enrichment, insisting the new step "strengthens" its position in upcoming talks with world powers on its controversial nuclear programme.

 

Atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi said that having previously been obliged to import yellowcake from abroad, Iran was now "self-sufficient" in the entire nuclear fuel cycle.

 

"The West had counted on the possibility of us being in trouble over raw material but today we had the first batch of yellowcake from Gachin mine sent to Isfahan (conversion) facility," Salehi said on state television.

 

Conversion is the process by which yellowcake is turned into uranium hexafluoride (UF6) for enrichment.

 

Analysts believe Iran has nearly exhausted 600 tonnes of yellowcake acquired from South Africa in the 1970s before the Islamic revolution, triggering speculation that a lack of raw material might halt its nuclear programme.

 

A February 2009 study by the US-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said that there was scant evidence at that time that Iran had been able to supplement its dwindling supply of yellowcake with domestically mined uranium.

 

Salehi said Iran still cannot meet "the overall need of the Isfahan facility but... will produce a significant part of it" from the Gachin mine near the Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas.

 

"Iran has become self-sufficient in the entire fuel cycle, starting from (uranium) exploration, mining and then turning it into yellowcake and converting it to UF6 and then turning it into fuel plates or pellets," he said.

 

He said Iran would formally notify the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its yellowcake production, but declined to disclose the amount of the first domestically produced batch.

 

Iran’s announcement comes as it prepares to hold a new round of talks with world powers on its controversial nuclear programme in Geneva on Monday.

 

Salehi said it meant Iran would "go to the negotiations with strength and power."

 

Uranium enrichment lies at the heart of Western concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities as it can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or in highly extended form the fissile core of an atom bomb.

 

Iran denies seeking a weapons capability but has pressed ahead with uranium enrichment in defiance of repeated UN Security Council ultimatums.

 

A succession of UN sanctions imposed since 2006 aimes at preventing Iran from acquiring technology, equipment and raw material for its nuclear programme.

 

Tehran insists it has a right to enrichment to make fuel as a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and has vowed to continue doing so.

 

"No matter how much effort they put into their sanctions in creating all sorts of hindrance... our nuclear activities will proceed," Salehi said.

 

The European Union’s top diplomat, Catherine Ashton, will conduct the talks with Iran’s chief negotiator Saeed Jalili on behalf of the five UN Security Council permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany.

 

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly insisted that enrichment is "non-negotiable" while calling on Western governments to "stop being hostile."

 

Iran also accuses Western powers and Israel -- the sole if undeclared nuclear power in the Middle East -- of being behind the recent assassination of a top nuclear scientist and of seeking to sabotage its nuclear programme.

 

Interior minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said that some people behind the assassination and other attacks on nuclear scientists had confessed to Israeli involvement.

 

"We are pursuing the arrest of all the perpetrators of these attacks, some of whom have been captured," the English-language Press TV website quoted Najjar as saying.

 

"He added that according to the confessions of the arrested suspects the role of Israel in the incidents is completely obvious."

 

It took Iran and the six powers a month to agree on a date and venue for the Geneva talks, but they have yet to agree on an agenda.

 

The world powers want the talks to focus on Iran’s enrichment programme, but Tehran wants a wider discussion including regional security issues and Israel’s suspected nuclear arsenal.

 

Meanwhile, US defence secretary Robert Gates was in Oman on Sunday for talks on Iran’s nuclear programme before visiting aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the Gulf state’s coast.

Write your Comments on this Article
Your Name
Native Place / Place of Residence
Your E-mail
Your Comment   You have characters left.
Security Validation
Enter the characters in the image above
    
Disclaimer: Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Kemmannu.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.
Please note that under 66A of the IT Act, sending offensive or menacing messages through electronic communication service and sending false messages to cheat, mislead or deceive people or to cause annoyance to them is punishable. It is obligatory on kemmannu.com to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request. Hence, sending offensive comments using kemmannu.com will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Kemmannu.com be held responsible.
Similarly, Kemmannu.com reserves the right to edit / block / delete the messages without notice any content received from readers.




52nd UAE National Day 2023 - Abu Dhabi Fireworks.
View More

Maundy Thursday 2024 | LIVE From St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | Udupi |Maundy Thursday 2024 | LIVE From St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | Udupi |
2 BHK Flat for sale on the 6th floor of Eden Heritage, Santhekatte, Kallianpur, Udupi2 BHK Flat for sale on the 6th floor of Eden Heritage,  Santhekatte, Kallianpur, Udupi.
Kemmennu for sale 1 BHK 628 sqft, Air Conditioned flatKemmennu for sale 1 BHK 628 sqft, Air Conditioned  flat
Symphony98 Releases Soul-Stirring Rendition of Lenten Hymn "Khursa Thain"Symphony98 Releases Soul-Stirring Rendition of Lenten Hymn
Palm Sunday 2024 at St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | LIVEPalm Sunday 2024 at St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | LIVE
Final Journey of Patrick Oliveira (83 years) || LIVE From KemmannuFinal Journey of Patrick Oliveira (83 years) || LIVE From Kemmannu
Carmel School Science Exhibition Day || Kmmannu ChannelCarmel School Science Exhibition Day || Kmmannu Channel
Final Journey of Prakash Crasta | LIVE From Kemmannu || Kemmannu ChannelFinal Journey of Prakash Crasta | LIVE From Kemmannu || Kemmannu Channel
ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಮಹಾ ಸಂಘ | ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯಾಂಚ್ಯಾ ದಿಸಾಚೊ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ್ 2024 || ಸಾಸ್ತಾನ್ ಘಟಕ್ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಮಹಾ ಸಂಘ | ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯಾಂಚ್ಯಾ ದಿಸಾಚೊ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ್ 2024 || ಸಾಸ್ತಾನ್ ಘಟಕ್
Valentine’s Day Special❤️||Multi-lingual Covers || Symphony98 From KemmannuValentine’s Day Special❤️||Multi-lingual Covers || Symphony98 From Kemmannu
Final Journey of Lionel John Lewis (74 years) | LIVE from Milagres Cathedral | Kallianpur | UdupiFinal Journey of Lionel John Lewis (74 years) | LIVE from Milagres Cathedral | Kallianpur | Udupi
Rozaricho Gaanch December 2023 issue, Mount Rosary Church Santhekatte Kallianpur, UdupiRozaricho Gaanch December 2023 issue, Mount Rosary Church Santhekatte Kallianpur, Udupi
An Ernest Appeal From Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Diocese of UdupiAn Ernest Appeal From Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Diocese of Udupi
Diocese of Udupi - Uzvd Decennial Special IssueDiocese of Udupi - Uzvd Decennial Special Issue
Final Journey Of Canute Pinto (52 years) | LIVE From Mount Rosary Church | Kallianpura | UdupiFinal Journey Of Canute Pinto (52 years) | LIVE From Mount Rosary Church | Kallianpura | Udupi
Earth Angels Anniversary | Comedy Show 2024 | Live From St. Theresa’s Church | Kemmannu | UdupiEarth Angels Anniversary | Comedy Show 2024 | Live From St. Theresa’s Church | Kemmannu | Udupi
Vespers 2024 | St. Theresa’s Church, KemmannuVespers 2024 | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu
Annual Church Feast 2024 | St. Theresa’s Church, KemmannuAnnual Church Feast 2024 | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu
Confraternity Sunday | St. Theresa’s Church, KemmannuConfraternity Sunday | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu
Kemmannu Cricket Match 2024 | LIVE from KemmannuKemmannu Cricket Match 2024 | LIVE from Kemmannu
CHRISTMAS MASS-2023 | St. Theresa’s Church | Live from Kemmannu | UdupiCHRISTMAS MASS-2023 | St. Theresa’s Church | Live from Kemmannu | Udupi
Annual Day 2023 | Carmel English School, Live From KemmannuAnnual Day 2023 | Carmel English School, Live From Kemmannu
Naturya - Taste of Namma Udupi - Order NOWNaturya - Taste of Namma Udupi - Order NOW
New Management takes over Bannur Mutton, Santhekatte, Kallianpur. Visit us and feel the difference.New Management takes over Bannur Mutton, Santhekatte, Kallianpur. Visit us and feel the difference.
Easter 2023 - Milrachi Lara From Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, UdupiEaster 2023 - Milrachi Lara From Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Udupi
Focus Studio, Near Hotel Kidiyoor, UdupiFocus Studio, Near Hotel Kidiyoor, Udupi