Uranium enriched, says Iran

N-programme: 164 centrifuges used to produce power-plant fuel

Iran has successfully enriched uranium for the first time, using 164 centrifuges, a major development in its nuclear programme, former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Tuesday according to a news agency.

Interviewed by the Kuwait News Agency in Tehran, Rafsanjani said: 8220;Iran has put into operation the first unit of 164 centrifuges, has injected uranium gas and has reached industrial production.8221; It was the first announcement that Iran had successfully enriched uranium since February when it began research at its enrichment facility in the town of Natanz.

Enriching uranium to a low level produces fuel for nuclear reactors. To a higher level, it produces the material for a nuclear bomb. Iran would require thousands of operating centrifuges to produce sufficient uranium for either purpose.

Rafsanjani did not disclose the amount of uranium that Iran had enriched through the 164 centrifuges, but he said it would put the country in a good position for the visit later this week of Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

8220;When ElBaradei arrives in Iran, he will face new circumstances,8221; Rafsanjani said, according to KUNA.

In Vienna, officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency, whose inspectors are now in Iran, declined to comment on the report. But a diplomat familiar with Tehran8217;s enrichment programme said it appeared to be accurate. He demanded anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss information restricted to the IAEA.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had promised on Monday to announce 8220;good nuclear news8221; soon.

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The expected news was widely believed by the Iranian media to be the announcement that Iran has enriched uranium to the 3.5 per cent level needed to fuel nuclear power stations like the one it is building at the Gulf Port of Bushehr.

8216;8216;After hearing all the good news on Tuesday night, Iranians should prostrate themselves before almighty God,8217;8217; Ahmadinejad had said in the northeastern city of Mashhad on Monday.

Iran has been referred to the UN Security Council after failing to convince the international community that its nuclear activities are aimed at producing only nuclear power, and not weapons.

Washington has said repeatedly it wants to resolve the nuclear standoff by diplomatic means. But analysts say advances in uranium enrichment technology by Iran may be the trip wire for the US or Israel to take military action.

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Meanwhile, US President George W Bush on Monday dismissed reports of US plans for military strikes on Iran as 8216;8216;wild speculation8217;8217;.