AFP: British Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the revelation Monday that Iran had started enriching uranium at a new site in a deep mountain bunker, calling it a “provocative act”.
LONDON (AFP) — British Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the revelation Monday that Iran had started enriching uranium at a new site in a deep mountain bunker, calling it a “provocative act”.
Hague said he was “extremely disappointed” at the development at the Fordo plant, which was confirmed by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency and is set to further inflame tensions with the West.
“At a time when the international community is asking Iran to provide assurances of the peaceful nature of its programme, this is a provocative act which further undermines Iran’s claims that its programme is entirely civilian in nature,” Hague said in a statement.
He said the “size, location, and clandestine nature (of the plant) raise serious questions about its ultimate purpose”, adding that Iran could provide “no credible rationale for producing so much 20 percent enriched uranium”.
While nuclear energy plants need fuel enriched to 3.5 percent, Iran says the 20-percent enriched uranium is needed for its Tehran research reactor to make isotopes to treat cancers.
Hague said Iran should stop the 20 percent enrichment, adding that “in the absence of this international pressure on Iran will only increase further”.
