Iran unveils 'uranium enrichment advances' {w/ video at link}

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http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/02/2012215103920368564.html

ran has made advances in its nuclear programme, building new uranium enrichment centrifuges and producing its own nuclear reactor fuel plates, state television says.

The claimed breakthrough, which was confirmed by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, on Wednesday, is likely to further unsettle the US and allies who believe Iran is attempting to acquire nuclear weapons.

Iran has added 3,000 more centrifuges to its uranium enrichment effort, Ahmadinejad said in a speech broadcast on state television as he unveiled progress in his country's controversial nuclear programme.

"Approximately 6,000 centrifuges were working, 3,000 have been added to that amount. [Now] there are 9,000," he said.

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1. Iran Says It Loaded Locally Made Fuel to Nuke

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-15/iran-says-it-s-loaded-locally-made-fuel-plates-into-tehran-nuclear-reactor.html

Iran loaded locally built fuel plates into its nuclear research reactor in Tehran, state-run Press TV reported today, showing images of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inside the facility.

Only a handful of countries, including France and the U.S., have the technology to build the 20-percent enriched fuel plates needed for the reactor, according to Iranian officials. Ahmadinejad described the step as a “major” nuclear feat.

Iranian scientists achieved the breakthrough in line with a policy of “nuclear energy for all and nuclear weapons for none,” the Islamic Republic News Agency said. It shows that Iran won’t be intimidated and will pursue its technological advancement, the Iranian Students News Agency said.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said the U.S. was aware of the announcement and “we expect to learn more” from International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors working in Iran.