Iran began the process of enriching uranium to 20%

TEHRAN - Iran launched on Tuesday the process of enriching uranium to 20% on the Natanz site (center) under the supervision of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported Official Iranian TV in Arabic Al-Alam.

•    "Iran has started enriching uranium to a level of 20% in the presence of IAEA inspectors at Natanz," said Al-Alam citing "a source from the Iranian Organization atomic energy. 
  
     Initiating the process of enriching uranium to 20% was announced Sunday by Iranian officials and notified Monday to the IAEA. 
  
     This decision was taken, according to Tehran, because of the stalled talks with the Six (USA, Russia, China, France, Great Britain, Germany) on the provision to Iran of fuel enriched to 20% which it expressed the need for a reactor for medical research. 
  
     Iranian officials have said however that "the door remains open" for an exchange of uranium with major powers, called to "move from confrontation to cooperation with Iran. 
  
     The announcement of Iran has caused an outcry in the international community, especially among the great powers which suspect Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons under cover of its civilian program despite its repeated denials.
  
  
• Ennaharonline/ M. O.