Iran Will Build 10 New Uranium Plants

IRAN PRESIDENT MAMOUD AHMADINEJAD Photo: Reuters

Los Angeles (THEWILL)- Iran said on Sunday it plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants in a bid to expand its nuclear program, a clear defiance to the United Nations calls to halt its nuclear ambitions.

The Iranian Cabinet's decision may escalate already tense relations between the hard-line Iranian government and major world powers that have already voiced their suspicion over the country’s nuclear ambition. Western governments suspect Iran wants to build nuclear bombs.

The Mahmoud Ahmadinejad regime wants to add five more sites similar to existing plants in Natanz and has instructed that five more be designed immediately. The plants are expected to produce fuel for civilian nuclear power stations, according to the Islamic republic News Agency.

Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear ambition is for developmental and peaceful purposes and it intends to pursue it to the end warning its military would retaliate against any aggressors. Last weekend its military tested some long-range missiles in the desert. Ahmadinejad says Iran hopes to produce 250-300 tons of nuclear fuel a year. “We have to reach to a level to produce 250-300 tons of nuclear fuel per year and in order to reach this aim we would use new centrifuges with a higher speed.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday passed a resolution condemning Iran for secretly building a second uranium enrichment plant in Qom. It wants Iran to stop the enrichment program. The 35-nation IAEA board resolution reflected its frustrations with Iran over its hide and seek attitude towards its nuclear plans.

In response to the resolution, the Iranian parliament has asked the government to reduce its cooperation with the IAEA claiming that it has a right to produce nuclear fuel under the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty. "Because of world powers' hasty behaviour, the government should submit its plan over reducing Iran's cooperation level with the agency" the parliament said in a note.

Iran allies China and Russia surprisingly backed Friday’s U.N. resolution. The resolution calls on Iran to halt construction on all nuclear sites and confirm there are no more hidden sites. Iran may face more severe sanctions if it doesn’t comply with the body’s demands.

It is unclear whether China and Russia will join in pushing for tougher sanctions against Iran as they have long prevented the U.N. Security Council from expanding its punitive sanctions against the Islamic regime in the past.