Nuclear Case Becomes More Complicated

Simultaneous with the government’s official announcement of its intention to enrich uranium to twenty percent saturation, the Islamic Republic’s representative at the International Atomic and Energy Agency (IAEA) described Iran’s nuclear program as a “humanitarian project.”  In response, the United States announced “new sanctions” against the Islamic Republic as the international community’s only option.

Speaking to the state radio and television broadcasting organization, Ali Akbar Salehi announced that the twenty percent uranium enrichment began on Tuesday.  The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) added that the Islamic Republic notified the IAEA of its decision in writing on Monday.

Ahmadinejad: Time Running Out
Two days ago, while visiting a symposium in Tehran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered the head of the IAEO to produce higher enriched uranium ¾ from the current three and a half percent to twenty percent grade.

Salehi said in this regard, “Mr. Ahmadinejad declared that time is running out and they [the West] are not prepared to carry out fuel swaps without preconditions, as a result of which, he has ordered the IAEO to prepare itself to provide Tehran’s nuclear reactor fuel.” This reactor is used for producing isotopes used in medical treatment.

These developments occur one week after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking at a television interview, made remarks that provided hope to some international analysts about the possibility of negotiating with the West around preliminary agreements reached early last fall in Vienna.  In this interview Ahmadinejad had said, “There is no problem if we put our three and a half percent fuel at their disposal.  Some inside [the country] made noise and said they will take our fuel and not give us anything.  We responded, what would happen if they don’t?”

Soltaniyyeh: Humanitarian Project
In this connection, speaking to the Fars news agency ¾ affiliated with security-intelligence apparatus ¾ Iran’s permanent envoy to the IAEA, announced the delivery of Iran’s letter to the IAEA: “At about 12 o’clock today (Monday), Vienna time, in a formal letter to the agency, Iran’s decision to begin operations to enrich uranium up to twenty percent to provide fuel for the Tehran reactor was officially announced to the agency.”

He described Iran’s project to enrich uranium up to twenty percent, which has raised concerns in the West, as a “humanitarian project” to address the needs of hospitals and pharmacies, claiming, “They cannot be made to wait any longer.”  

While Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s comments last week had created some hope in continuing diplomatic talks, the head of the tenth administration’s sudden position change caused the United States and Europe to announce further pressures against the Islamic Republic.  

One instance was yesterday’s remarks by the U.S. Secretary of Defense, who argued that imposing “new sanctions” against Iran are the international community’s “only solution.”