President Rejects Western Accusations over Legal N. Site

September 26, 2009

TEHRAN (FNA)-

The Iranian President rejected western accusations regarding Iran's newly announced nuclear facility, saying the plant is perfectly legal.

Speaking at a press conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in New York, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the country's second nuclear plant is not in breach of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rules adding that it is open for inspection by the agency.

"According to the IAEA rules, countries must inform the Agency 6 months ahead of the gas injection in their uranium enrichment plants. We have done it 18 months ahead and this should be appreciated not condemned," the president noted.

The Iranian President said Iran does not feel worried because the enrichment facility is operating in line with IAEA regulations adding those who brand an under-construction nuclear enrichment facility as 'secret' will regret the remarks they made, press tv reported.

In line with its guarantee to the IAEA for clarity on its nuclear activities, Iran informed the UN nuclear watchdog on 21 September that it is constructing a second plant for uranium enrichment.

"I can confirm that on 21 September, Iran informed the IAEA in a letter that a new pilot fuel enrichment plant is under construction in the country," agency spokesman Marc Vidricaire said Friday.

According to the spokesman, the letter underlined that the enrichment level in the plant would only be up to 5 percent.

Uranium, the fuel for a nuclear power plant, can be used for military purposes only if enriched to high levels of above 90 percent.

The UN nuclear watchdog in its previous reports had confirmed that Iran -- in its first enrichment facility in Natanz -- only managed to enrich uranium-235 to a level "less than 5 percent."

"(French President Nicolas) Sarkozy and (UK Prime Minister Gordon) Brown are not important for us and what they say does not matter but we think President Obama's accusations are against what he said in his speech at the United Nations," President Ahmadinejad said.

Ahmadinejad also said the news of the existence of the nuclear facility could not affect talks between Iran and the 5+1 group in October.

The newly announced nuclear site is being built near the Iranian city of Qom, some 160 kilometers south of Tehran.

Leader's Aide: Iran's New N. Plant to Go on Stream Soon

September 26, 2009

TEHRAN (FNA)-

A senior Iranian official on Saturday announced that Tehran's newly announced uranium enrichment plant will become operational in the near future.

"God willing, this plant will be put into operation soon, and will blind the eyes of the enemies," Head of Supreme Leader's Office Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani said in Tehran today.

Pointing to the enemies' plot to undermine the Islamic Republic's power during unrests after June 12 presidential election in the country, Golpayegani noted, "These incidents did not push us into a state of backwardness, rather we are enjoying maximum power today and construction of the new nuclear enrichment plant, announced yesterday, is an indication of this power."

In line with its guarantee to the IAEA for clarity on its nuclear activities, Iran informed the UN nuclear watchdog on 21 September that it is constructing a second plant for uranium enrichment.

IAEA's Spokesman Marc Vidricaire said Friday, "I can confirm that on 21 September, Iran informed the IAEA in a letter that a new pilot fuel enrichment plant is under construction in the country."

According to the spokesman, the letter underlined that the enrichment level in the plant would only be up to 5 percent.

Meantime, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi in a statement on Friday announced construction of another nuclear fuel enrichment plant in the country.

Iran new enrichment plant to be operational soon: official

    TEHRAN, Sept. 26, 2009, (Xinhua) --

Head of the office of Iran's supreme leader Mohammad Mohammadi-Golpayegani said on Saturday that Iran's new nuclear fuel enrichment plant will be operational soon, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

    "This new plant, God willing, will be operational soon," Mohammadi-Golpayegani was quoted as saying.

    Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi on Friday confirmed that Iran is building a new nuclear fuel enrichment plant.

    "The Islamic Republic of Iran has achieved a successful new step on the way of preserving and enjoying its undeniable right for peaceful use of nuclear energy," Salehi was quoted as saying in a statement, "and Iran has started building a semi-industrial plant for enriching nuclear fuel."

    The United States and other Western countries claim that Iran intends to secretly develop nuclear weapons. The UN Security Council also requires Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activity.

    Iran, however, insists that its nuclear plan is only for peaceful purposes, vowing to continue its uranium enrichment activity despite pressure and sanctions from Western countries.

Editor: Mo Hong'e

Iranian nuclear official confirms construction of new enrichment plant

    TEHRAN, Sept. 25, 2009, (Xinhua) --

Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi on Friday confirmed that Iran is building a new nuclear fuel enrichment plant, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    "The Islamic Republic of Iran has achieved a successful new step on the way of preserving and enjoying its undeniable right for peaceful use of nuclear energy," Salehi was quoted as saying in a statement, adding "Iran has started building a semi-industrial plant for enriching nuclear fuel."

    "Activities of this plant will be in the framework of the regulations of the (International Atomic Energy) Agency," he added.

    This was the first official confirmation from Tehran after reports came earlier on Friday that Iran has informed the IAEA that it is constructing a new plant for nuclear fuel enrichment.

    "I can confirm that on Sept. 21, Iran informed the IAEA in a letter that a new pilot fuel enrichment plant is under construction in the country," IAEA spokesman Marc Vidricaire was quoted as saying by Iran's English-language Press TV.

    According to the spokesman, the letter underlined that the enrichment level in the plant would only be up to 5 percent.

    "Iran has assured the agency in the letter that further complementary information will be provided in an appropriate and due time," Vidricaire added.

    In reaction, the IAEA has requested that the Tehran government provide detailed information and access to the new nuclear facility as soon as possible.

Editor: Yan

Obama warns about consequences if diplomacy fails to solve Iran nuclear issue

    PITTSBURGH, the United States, Sept. 25, 2009, (Xinhua) --

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday warned Iran of consequences should diplomacy fails to solve the Iran nuclear issue.

    The United States is working on two tracks with Iran. It prefers diplomacy but will look at other options if there is need, Obama told a press conference held right after the conclusion of the two-day G20 summit in Pittsburgh, the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

    "When we find that diplomacy does not work, we will be in a much stronger position to, for example, apply sanctions that have bite," Obama said.

    Iran informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the existence of a second uranium enrichment facility on Monday, deepening concerns that it has a secret program to produce nuclear weapons.

    Obama hailed the international solidarity in the face of the new revelation of Iran's nuclear program, saying that China and Russia have both called for immediate investigation of the matter by the IAEA.

    Meeting on Friday morning on the margins of the G20 Summit, Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown agreed that Iran's nuclear activity is unacceptable and that its government should respond to the international community regarding its secret nuclear program by Oct. 1, according to a White House statement.

    The two leaders also joined French President Nicolas Sarkozy in a meeting with the press on Friday to make the case against Iran.

    Iran has always defended its nuclear program, saying that the peaceful use of nuclear technology is its inalienable rights that can not be negotiated.

    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed on Friday that a second uranium enrichment plant is completely legal under the U.N. nuclear watchdog's rules.

    "What we did was completely legal, according to the law," Ahmadinejad told reporters at a New York hotel press conference.

    But Obama insists that Iran's action is a breach of rules all nations must follow, saying that the size and configuration of the second uranium enrichment facility is inconsistent with a peaceful program.

    He said the United States is in possession of information from three intelligence agencies about the secret facility.

    "Iran is on notice that when we meet with them on Oct. 1 they are going to have to come clean and they are going to have to make a choice," said Obama, adding if Iran refuses to give ground, they will stay on "a path that is going to lead to confrontation." 　

Editor: Yan

IAEA must immediately evaluate new Iranian site – Medvedev

25.09.2009, 21.29

PITTSBURGH, September 25, 2009, (Itar-Tass) --

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must immediately evaluate the construction of a new Iranian uranium enrichment site in the light of Iranian nuclear program inspections, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday.

“Bearing in mind Russia’s commitments of an IAEA member, we will assist such inspections in every possible way,” he said.

“We urge Iran to fully assist the Agency to make this inspection,” Medvedev said.

Information about the Iranian construction of the Qom site without IAEA knowledge is a source of serious concern, he said.

“The construction of a new uranium enrichment site contradicts repeated demands of the UN Security Council that Iran must stop uranium enrichment research,” he said.

“We are determined to start negotiations on the soonest signing of a long-term comprehensive agreement aimed to settle the Iranian nuclear problem. The situation requires close attention,” he said. “The Iranian authorities admitted in a letter to the IAEA that Iran is building a new uranium enrichment plant.”

Russia intends to attain specific and verified results in the evaluation of the Iranian nuclear program in the near future, the president noted.

“The Sextet is due to meet with Iranian representatives on October 1. This is an Iranian opportunity to confirm its adherence to the negotiations,” he said.

“That is possible if Iran is ready to concentrate on the nuclear problem at the Geneva meeting, to take practical steps in building up confidence in its nuclear program and its transparency, and to display the readiness for large-scale cooperation with the IAEA,” Medvedev said.

“We hope that Iran will present convincing evidence to its pursuit of the exclusively peaceful atomic energy goals, especially in the light of the latest information about the construction of a new uranium enrichment site,” he said.