A UN nuclear report says Iran has begun installing advanced centrifuges at its main uranium enrichment plant. In a confidential report, the International Atomic Energy Agency said 180 so-called IR-2m centrifuges and empty centrifuge casings had been hooked up at the plant near the central town of Natanz. However, they were not yet in operation.
If launched successfully, such machines could enable Iran to significantly speed up its accumulation of enriched uranium. Iran says the new centrifuges will be used to produce uranium with a purity of five percent. It has maintained that its refining uranium only for peaceful energy purposes.
Six world powers and Iran are due to meet for the first time in eight months in Kazakhstan on February 26th.