Let the countdown to war with Iran begin....
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4900260.stm

Iran has confirmed it has successfully produced the enriched uranium needed to make nuclear fuel.

The declaration, by the nuclear energy chief, followed earlier claims by ex-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

It is the first time Iran has produced the uranium since resuming research in February. The UN last month gave Iran 30 days to halt work or face action.

The US responded to the latest news by saying that Iran was "moving in the wrong direction".

Western powers fear Iran is developing a nuclear bomb. Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian use.

US warning

Vice-president and atomic energy chief Gholam Reza Aghazadeh confirmed enriched uranium production began on Monday at the Natanz plant.

He also said Iran had produced 110 tons of uranium gas needed to feed the process - twice the amount it said last year that it had produced.

The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says international inspectors who are currently visiting Iran's nuclear sites have yet to confirm the production.

The White House condemned Iran's announcement.

Spokesman Scott McClellan said: "If the regime continues to move in the direction that it is currently, then we will be talking about the way forward with the other members of the Security Council and Germany."

Earlier Mr Rafsanjani told Kuwait's Kuna news agency Iran had operated 164 centrifuges for the first time, achieving "industrial output".

The 164 centrifuges are needed to provide the cascade that creates enriched uranium.

But the process would only create the low-level enrichment needed for nuclear fuel.

Iran would need thousands of centrifuges to create the highly enriched uranium needed for nuclear weapons.

Experts say Iran is years away from having a nuclear bomb.

'Nuclear club'

BBC world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says the enrichment represents a significant step forward in Iran's nuclear programme.

Although this is not a large production, he says, Iran would seem to have proved that it can do the technology - at least on this scale.

President Ahmadinejad on Monday promised "very good nuclear news in the coming days" regarding Iran's nuclear programme.

Political analyst Saeed Laylaz told Reuters news agency Mr Rafsanjani and Mr Ahmadinejad might be competing with each other over credit for the nuclear programme, which has popular support in Iran.

On Tuesday Mr Ahmadinejad said: "Iran will soon join the club of countries that have nuclear technology... The equation will change in favour of the Iranian people."

The developments coincide with a visit on Wednesday of Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who is going to Iran to discuss its nuclear programme.

Mr Rafsanjani, who heads the key governing body, the Expediency Council, is expected to make a visit to Kuwait in a few days time.
Great Spirit Reviewed by Great Spirit on . Iran confirms key nuclear advance Let the countdown to war with Iran begin.... ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4900260.stm Iran has confirmed it has successfully produced the enriched uranium needed to make nuclear fuel. The declaration, by the nuclear energy chief, followed earlier claims by ex-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. It is the first time Iran has produced the uranium since resuming research in February. The UN last month gave Rating: 5