http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=50835&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs
US: 'We are very concerned' about Iran's nukes
Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - ?2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, April 10 (IranMania) - Hardline Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad announced that his country has begun production of nuclear
fuel on an "industrial level", CNN reported.
"Iran has succeeded in development to attain production at an
industrial level," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a speech at the Natanz
uranium enrichment facility in central Iran.
The announcement came on the first anniversary of the start of uranium
enrichment at the plant, the report added.
US President Bush contends Iran is using its program to develop
nuclear weapons, the report added.
Leaders of European nations have expressed similar alarm.
"We are very concerned," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
"We call on the Iranian regime to comply with its obligations to the
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and UN Security Council."
According to the report, Monday, Ahmadinejad said, "With great pride,
I announce that as of today, our dear country, Iran, is among the
countries of the world that produces the industrial level of nuclear
fuel."
Iran's leader vowed it will be used for energy "and for the expansion
of peace and stability," adding that the goal of "progress" for Iran
is "irreversible."
Ahmadinejad's speech came on what Iran called its National Nuclear
Feast, designed to send a message to the world that the nation will
not halt its nuclear activities despite calls for it to do so from
many Western governments, particularly the United States, and
sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, CNN noted.
The IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog, has said it cannot confirm that
Iran's nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. IAEA officials
say Iran has failed to cooperate with inspectors.
US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack called Monday's events
"another signal Iran is in defiance of the international community."
He added that it shows the international community has been right in
levying sanctions.
McCormack called it a "missed opportunity" for Iran, arguing Iranian
leaders should have announced they were suspending their uranium
enrichment program in response to the international concerns, CNN
stated.
No one disputes Iran's right to a peaceful nuclear energy program, he
said, and added, "There is a negotiation alternative."
But Ahmadinejad said Monday there has been "no evidence of violation
in our activities."
"Despite the cooperation of our country and its transparency, despite
the fact that our measures are legal, we have witnessed controversy
created by some powers who benefit from the nuclear fuel cycle
themselves," he said.
He committed much of his speech to slamming the "enemies" of Iran, who
he said don't want to see it make "progress."
"They have even resorted to the Security Council and tried to turn it
into a tool to prevent the nuclear development of the Islamic Republic
of Iran."
According to CNN, before Ahmadinejad spoke, Vice President Gholamreza
Aghazadeh said, "We have gathered, thanking Almighty God for the
introduction of the uranium enrichment program to the industrial
phase, and once again we thank almighty God for allowing us to attain
industrial enrichment plans."
Iran gave no indication it intends to capitulate to international
demands.
At schools throughout the country, bells were rung Monday in
celebration, and children chanted slogans, such as: "Nuclear energy is
an inalienable right of the Iranian nation" and "No country has the
right to deprive Iran of its indisputable right."
"The Iranian nation is in need of nuclear fuel cycle," state-run news
agency IRNA said.
At the United Nations in New York, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon held
out hope for a resolution to the dispute.
"I sincerely hope that even at this time when (the) Iranian government
is undergoing Security Council sanctions, that it could engage in
dialogue with the international community," he said.
"This is very important for any country to fully comply with the
Security Council resolutions. I urge (the) Iranian government to do
so."
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