Iran Claims it Can Produce Uranium Powder
The LA Times reports:
The head of Iran's atomic energy organization said on television Sunday that Iran had achieved the ability to produce its own yellow cake, uranium powder that is a step in the process for creating nuclear fuel.
Ali Akbar Salehi said the breakthrough, using uranium ore mined in southern Iran, signified the country's full self-sufficiency in the production of uranium, cutting out the need for imported material.
The announcement comes on the eve of talks on Iran's nuclear program Monday in Geneva and may be aimed at bolstering Tehran's bargaining position. It also follows attacks Monday on two Iranian scientists, one of them Majid Shahriari, who was killed in what Iran described as a Western or Israeli operation.
"The enemies and ill-wishers have always tried to create despair and disappointment among our youth, academicians, engineers and our nation, but today we witness the delivery of the first batch of yellow cake that is produced inside the country," Salehi said at a news conference broadcast on state television.
Salehi said the announcement meant Iran would be attending the upcoming talks "with power and authority and that we do not seek favors from any party."
The latest development, which Salehi said was observed by international inspectors, also demonstrates Iran's continuing drive to master nuclear know-how and establish itself as a world power. Western analysts had speculated that Iran's nuclear program was running into technical difficulties because of an inability to procure raw uranium and technical problems with the centrifuges it uses to refine uranium.
