Iran Steps Up Uranium Production

Iran has announced it plans to turn tons of uranium into the substance used to make enriched uranium, the U.N. atomic watchdog agency said Wednesday in a report stoking concern about Tehran's nuclear agenda.

The confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said the agency had been informed that the Islamic Republic planned to process 37 metric tons (more than 40 tons) of raw uranium into uranium hexafluoride.

Uranium hexafluoride is spun in centrifuges to produce enriched uranium, which in turn can be used to generate power or make nuclear warheads, depending on the degree of enrichment.

A senior diplomat familiar with the agency declined to say how much hexafluoride could be obtained from that amount of raw uranium, also known as yellowcake, beyond saying it was a "substantial amount."

Another diplomat, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said that enough highly enriched uranium could be produced from the hexafluoride derived to make several explosive devices.

The report obtained by The Associated Press was circulated to diplomats ahead of the agency's board meeting, which starts Sept. 13. It did not specify what plans Iran had for the uranium hexafluoride.

But two other diplomats, speaking separately, said they had been told Iran had also informed the agency that it planned to introduce "a substance" into its 64-cascade centrifuge facility at Natanz in the near future.

Iran appeared to be alluding to uranium hexafluoride, they said.

Uranium hexafluoride is normally put in such centrifuges and spun repeatedly and at varying lengths of time depending on the degree of enrichment sought. Uranium enriched above 90 percent is considered weapons grade.

The senior diplomat said any uranium hexafluoride that Iran produces "could be the feed stock for Natanz."

The issue of enrichment is extremely sensitive as the international community tries to determine if Iran is using its nuclear program for peaceful purposes only, as Tehran insists, or trying to make weapons.

The United States says Iran is working to produce nuclear weapons, and U.S. officials are spearheading an effort at the Sept. 13 IAEA board of governors meeting to have Tehran declared in violation of its nonproliferation commitments — a move that could force the U.N. security council to take action against Iran.

Iran agreed to suspend its enrichment program last year, in an effort to build international trust. But that commitment eroded over the subsequent months, and in July Iran confirmed reports that it had resumed building nuclear centrifuges.

That led to increased accusations from the United States and European nations that Iran had reneged on its pledge, something Tehran denied, arguing that it was not actually producing enriched uranium.