Iran to start enrichment at Fordow

Thursday, 9 June 2011 Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it is transferring its 20% uranium enrichment process from the Natanz site in Isfahan province to the Fordow site in Qom province, some 150 kilometres southwest of Tehran, the ISNA news agency reported. Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi said, "Iran informs the IAEA of any action regarding civilian nuclear enrichment and we have already told IAEA officials that we would transfer 20% enriched fuel to the Fordow site from the Natanz nuclear installation." Iran revealed to the IAEA in 2009 that construction of an enrichment plant at Fordow had already begun. Salehi also denied allegations from the French foreign ministry that Iran is enriching uranium beyond the level of 20%. "This is a false claim that would definitely be denied by the IAEA," he said. Meanwhile, Fereidoun Abbasi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), announced that the country intends to triple production of 20% enriched uranium under the IAEA's supervision. He said that some 164 new-generation centrifuges will soon be installed at both the Natanz and Fordow sites.