Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., November 08, 2007 Cheshvan 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:07 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Print Edition
Diplomacy
Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising
Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel
President Shimon Peres meeting with Italian PM Romano Prodi in Rome. (AP)
del.icio.us
Digg It!  new
Last update - 12:59 07/11/2007
Iran: We have 3,000 centrifuges working at enrichment plant
By The Associated Press
tags: Iran, nuclear program 

Iran has achieved a landmark, with 3,000 centrifuges fully working in its controversial uranium enrichment program, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Wednesday.

"We have now reached 3,000 machines," Ahmadinejad told thousands of Iranians gathered in Birjand, in eastern Iran, in a show of defiance of international demands to halt the program believed to be masking the country's nuclear arms efforts.

Ahmadinejad has in the past claimed that Iran succeeded in installing the 3,000 centrifuges at its uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. But Wednesday's claim was his first official statement that the plant is now fully operating all those centrifuges.
Advertisement
When Iran first announced launching the 3,000 centrifuges in April, the UN nuclear watchdog agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Tehran had only 328 centrifuges up and running at Natanz's underground facility.

Italian Premier Romano Prodi said Tuesday that Iran has every right to develop a peaceful nuclear program, while the international community has an equal right to verify its peaceful nature using the existing judicial measures.

In a speech delivered to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, on a visit to Rome, Prodi also said that Italy opposes any military action against Iran over Tehran's contentious nuclear program because such an attack could destabilize the entire Middle East.

Italy, as of this year a non-permanent member of the UN. Security Council, traditionally has good relations with Tehran and maintains a strong presence in Iran's gas market through Italian oil and gas giant Eni SpA.

Senior government officials, including the foreign minister, have spoken out against any use of force against Iran, saying that a new war in the region would be disastrous and calling instead for increased diplomatic efforts.

Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, but its assertions are widely disbelieved.

The Security Council has demanded that Tehran suspend uranium enrichment -a potential pathway both to generating nuclear power and creating the fissile core of warheads.

Iran could face further sanctions if upcoming reports by the European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency do not show improved Iranian cooperation.

Germany's Merkel reaffirms readiness to impose new sanctions on Iran
Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday reaffirmed Germany's
readiness to back tougher sanctions against Iran if it fails to back down in the dispute over its nuclear ambitions.

Before a weekend visit to U.S. President George W. Bush's Texas ranch, Merkel also stressed her commitment to a diplomatic resolution of the issue.

Germany, along with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, has been at the forefront of efforts to address concerns over Iran's nuclear program.

The Security Council has demanded that Tehran suspend uranium enrichment - a potential pathway both to generating nuclear power and creating the fissile core of warheads.

Iran could face further sanctions if upcoming reports by the European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency do not show improved Iranian cooperation.

In her acceptance speech for the Leo Baeck Prize - the highest honor of
Germany's Central Council of Jews - Merkel stressed the special historic
responsibility of Germany for the security and existence of Israel.

"I am aware that, in view of the threat to Israel from Iran's nuclear program, these cannot remain empty words," she said.

"We are looking, together with our partners, for a diplomatic solution," Merkel said. "Part of that is that Germany, if Iran does not give way, is prepared for further and tougher sanctions."

Merkel said that she would discuss Iran, as well as prospects for peace
between Israelis and Palestinians, during her meeting with Bush.


Related articles:
  • World powers agree to push ahead with tougher UN sanctions on Iran
  • China rejects Israel's call for tougher sanctions against Iran
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us
    And again...
    Olmert was voted the most corrupt politician for the 2nd year in a row.
    Political transfer
    Lieberman wants to outlaw the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee.
      1.   Typical euro-pansy BS 01:30  |  rich 07/11/07
      2.   Prodi is right 01:57  |  Adnan 07/11/07
      3.   As do Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Bahrain, Indonesia, Algeria, 02:29  |  Smatzer 07/11/07
      4.   Rich #1 03:25  |  jjvanka 07/11/07
      5.   According to the NPT, Iran certainly has that right 03:45  |  Steve 07/11/07
      6.   Israel refuses 03:59  |  Mark Lincoln 07/11/07
      7.   It makes no sense for oil-rich countries to require nuclear power 04:06  |  Gili 07/11/07
      8.   Italy maintain a storn presencr in the gaz and oil market in Iran 05:17  |  Gabriel 07/11/07
      9.   ITALIAN PM EXPOSES HIS NAIEVITÈ 05:18  |  M.Outhpiece 07/11/07
      10.   The EU should question Israels nuclear policy 05:36  |  Natallie Durson 07/11/07
      11.   #6, Mark Lincoln... 05:37  |  Silvienne 07/11/07
      12.   I wait for the IAEA report 05:40  |  Neil 07/11/07
      13.   Prodi in denial 05:41  |  Chick 07/11/07
      14.   italy`s stance 05:59  |  allan 07/11/07
      15.   #2 Adnan 06:01  |  Vijay 07/11/07
      16.   Iran doesn`t need nuclear power 06:01  |  Rob 07/11/07
      17.   #6 Mark Lincoln 06:04  |  Palfrey Clemens 07/11/07
      18.   Euro greed 06:19  |  Bob 07/11/07
      19.   To Gili 06:21  |  khalil 07/11/07
      20.   IRAN SHOULD STAND FIRM 06:26  |  indrajaya 07/11/07
      21.   to Gili 06:34  |  Arab American 07/11/07
      22.   Mark Lincoln 06:36  |  MarkC 07/11/07
      23.   Iran has every right to nuke Italy 06:40  |  Frank 07/11/07
      24.   to ANGELA MERKEL 06:51  |  mike 07/11/07
      25.   #7...the US is an Oil-rich country...and it has nuclear power 06:55  |  KMS 07/11/07
      26.   Isolationism 07:05  |  H.M 07/11/07
      27.   If Iran is Attacked 07:15  |  Adel 07/11/07
      28.   #6, Mark Licoln 07:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/11/07
      29.   Don`t talk about sanctions and diplomacy 07:25  |  Jim 07/11/07
      30.   #7 Gili 07:36  |  Jim 07/11/07
      31.   Mark Lincoln, You lie about lying and about making commitments 07:53  |  Rob 07/11/07
      32.   Arab American: Wrong and misleading technical arguments 08:08  |  Rob 07/11/07
      33.   18mike Did Israel call for Iran to be wiped off the map? 08:28  |  Rob 07/11/07
      34.   #10 Rob 08:31  |  Jim 07/11/07
      35.   To Arab American 08:43  |  MarkC 07/11/07
      36.   italian companies have every right to provide iran with gallows.. 08:46  |  scallywag 07/11/07
      37.   MRKc...IRan`s program is peaceful 08:47  |  KMS 07/11/07
      38.   #18 Mike 08:54  |  Jim 07/11/07
      39.   GILI 09:00  |  fadi 07/11/07
      40.   To MarkC n#16 09:06  |  khalil 07/11/07
      41.   Subtle Haaretz propaganda 09:26  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
      42.   threatening israel 09:27  |  goldman 07/11/07
      43.   For Rob # 20 09:32  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
      44.   To Khalil 09:36  |  MarkC 07/11/07
      45.   43Clickfool You too want Israel wiped of the map 09:55  |  Rob 07/11/07
      46.   To Khalil 2 09:58  |  MarkC 07/11/07
      47.   Clickfool #41 10:14  |  MarkC 07/11/07
      48.   Khalil is an angel compared with Mark Lincoln #6 10:20  |  S 07/11/07
      49.   Romano Prodi`s quote 10:31  |  S 07/11/07
      50.   Answering Rob # 45 10:38  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
      51.   IRANIAN MISSLES CAN REACH ITALY 11:08  |  WARRIOR 07/11/07
      52.   ITALY TAKES A SENSIBLE STANCE 12:13  |  Eric 07/11/07
      53.   IRAN IS NO DANGER TO ANYONE... ISRAEL IS 12:15  |  TrippleJump 07/11/07
      54.   israeli arrogance 12:16  |  ger 07/11/07
      55.   For Mark C, struggling with English # 47 12:32  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
      56.   Tricky game by Germany and IAEO 12:53  |  Jonathan S 07/11/07
      57.   DRIVE FOR CENTRIFUGES 13:03  |  Iskander 07/11/07
      58.   60000 centrifuges needed to creat the Bomb 13:11  |  Adel 07/11/07
      59.   Some lessons are unlearnable 13:17  |  Natallie Durson 07/11/07
      60.   Prodi is good for nothing. 13:20  |  massimo 07/11/07
      61.   #52 Eric 13:36  |  Paul Wood 07/11/07
      62.   Mr. Durson 13:37  |  Iskander 07/11/07
      63.   How could Israel reply?? 14:02  |  Maher Abu-Qadha 07/11/07
      64.   Iran`s Centrifuges 14:03  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/07
      65.   So what? 14:06  |  Edith 07/11/07
      66.   # 65, EDITH 14:15  |  Indrajaya 07/11/07
      67.   NO 62. 14:17  |  DANNY. 07/11/07
      68.   Jonathan`s obsession 14:29  |  Alex 07/11/07
      69.   The Greatest Mistake in History of Mankind 14:51  |  David Samson 07/11/07
      70.   Germany and the Islamic bomb 14:56  |  Jonathan S 07/11/07
      71.   ballistic missile 14:57  |  Pedro 07/11/07
      72.   Poster # 10 15:00  |  C Ramirez 07/11/07
      73.   Kudos to Iran, a true leader in the Middle East. 15:10  |  POP 07/11/07
      74.   # 70 15:10  |  Alex 07/11/07
      75.   Gili # 7 15:32  |  Aaron 07/11/07
      76.   #73 15:38  |  Sarah 07/11/07
      77.   How about if Egypt and Jordan had nuclear weapons? 15:45  |  sam 07/11/07
      78.   Wild hyperbole from David Samson # 69 15:46  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
      79.   #70 Jonathan 15:47  |  Sarah 07/11/07
      80.   Gili, Canada is an OilRich Country 15:59  |  Bernie 07/11/07
      81.   For Sarah in Israel 16:05  |  Jonathan S 07/11/07
      82.   To Clickfool no.78 16:16  |  dovale 07/11/07
      83.   They"ll still blow themselves up. 16:21  |  Stephen. 07/11/07
      84.   #74 Alex 16:22  |  christoph 07/11/07
      85.   #6: Israel non-signatory: Iran not in compliance 16:27  |  Paul Freedman 07/11/07
      86.   well done 16:30  |  Tony 07/11/07
      87.   Jonathan, thanks for not answering me 16:35  |  Alex 07/11/07
      88.   # 79 16:43  |  Alex 07/11/07
      89.   Bad news for Arabs and Israel 16:46  |  Mustafa 07/11/07
      90.   Pandora`s box 16:48  |  Avrum 07/11/07
      91.   Fadi -clean energy 16:49  |  Yosi, the Israeli 07/11/07
      92.   #78 Clickfool This won`t happen 17:04  |  Axel 07/11/07
      93.   # 28 CJK - Moral equivalency of the LEFT is a partial 17:34  |  17 07/11/07
      94.   A Zionist debates # 82 17:38  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
      95.   #84 Alex 17:40  |  Sarah 07/11/07
      96.   For Axel # 91 17:46  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
      97.   Go Iran! 17:52  |  John Mackie 07/11/07
      98.   Bernie in Detroit 17:53  |  Sarah 07/11/07
      99.   markc 22 17:54  |  realism 07/11/07
      100.   trip-p-le jump # 53 18:00  |  frenz 07/11/07
      101.   #91 Axel it already has 18:01  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/07
      102.   Kudos to Iran 18:12  |  farc Fincoln 07/11/07
      103.   mark lincoln 18:13  |  googleologist 07/11/07
      104.   same old loony-bin asylum here! 18:15  |  John Mackie 07/11/07
      105.   #96 ClickFOOL 18:29  |  Sarah 07/11/07
      106.   John Mackie #104 18:35  |  S 07/11/07
      107.   Iran is not denying 18:42  |  Canadian 07/11/07
      108.   #72 C Ramirez 19:03  |  Boycott 07/11/07
      109.   Berlin-Tehran, an unholy alliance 19:08  |  Jonathan S 07/11/07
      110.   Better continue with sanctions until Bush is out 19:10  |  Tosefta 07/11/07
      111.   He told that before, and was evidently bluffing. 19:13  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/11/07
      112.   #96 lickfool 19:15  |  Axel 07/11/07
      113.   Fadi and Sara, What Other Double Standards Do You Propose? 19:17  |  Bernie 07/11/07
      114.   #101 Chris Lintwaine 19:18  |  Axel 07/11/07
      115.   TJ #53 19:25  |  Neal 07/11/07
      116.   Natallie #59 19:34  |  Neal 07/11/07
      117.   USA Started Iranian Nuclear program 19:42  |  POP 07/11/07
      118.   Israel`s WMD`s 19:45  |  POP 07/11/07
      119.   Question for Christoph 19:48  |  Jonathan S 07/11/07
      120.   googlologist - just the facts 19:51  |  Mark Lincoln 07/11/07
      121.   GOOD LUCK IRAN... 19:51  |  Romeo 07/11/07
      122.   # 10 Why playing stupid, Fatmah... 19:54  |  Misha 07/11/07
      123.   One curious fact which has been made very clear 19:55  |  Mark Lincoln 07/11/07
      124.   For Axel again # 109 19:59  |  Clickfool 07/11/07
      125.   # 102 TX sun is overheating your brains, if you have tham... 20:07  |  Misha 07/11/07
      126.   #95 Sarah 20:16  |  christoph 07/11/07
      127.   #114 Axel you are right 20:27  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/07
      128.   Iran Will Not Get Nukes 20:27  |  Jane 07/11/07
      129.   3 thousand or 3 million - ZERO kilos of weapons grade uranium 20:28  |  Pablo B 07/11/07
      130.   AhMad InJihad again : he must be stopped 20:32  |  C.Roose 07/11/07
      131.   clickfool 20:57  |  Axel 07/11/07
      132.   # 127 Chris Linthwaite 21:01  |  Axel 07/11/07
      133.   ZIONISTS DESPERATE TO KEEP NUCLER DETERENT MONOLPOLY 21:01  |  TrippleJump 07/11/07
      134.   ISRAEL DESPERATE TO DRAG US & EUROPE TO WAR WITH IRAN 21:02  |  Eric 07/11/07
      135.   The Mad Mullahs must be stopped very soon, with or without 21:04  |  Chaim 07/11/07
      136.   Rob of New York 21:04  |  Jeb 07/11/07
      137.   Mark Lincoln and jjvanka are both right 21:06  |  Mark B. 07/11/07
      138.   #74 christph 21:09  |  Axel 07/11/07
      139.   christoph 21:14  |  Alex 07/11/07
      140.   #22 MarkC - opposing the existence of a nation 21:17  |  Pablo B 07/11/07
      141.   mark lincoln to understand precisely why we know iran 21:19  |  googleologist 07/11/07
      142.   fighting for freedom with pop # 118 21:22  |  frenz 07/11/07
      143.   mark lincoln why we know iran is producing a bomb 21:23  |  googleologist 07/11/07
      144.   mark lincoln pakistan and iran 21:26  |  googleologist 07/11/07
      145.   # 111 Fortuna Bebmayor.HE IS SCARED STIFF AND REPETITIONS.. 21:27  |  Fed-Up 07/11/07
      146.   #35 MarkC - Iran is NOT enriching weapons grade uranium 21:35  |  Pablo B 07/11/07
      147.   feeding thought with pop #117 21:29  |  frenz 07/11/07
      148.   feckless eric 21:33  |  alors 07/11/07
      149.   # 134 Nothing wrong with that for sure... 21:41  |  Misha 07/11/07
      150.   Does Israel not Worried About Unstable Pakistan? 21:42  |  JustMe 07/11/07
      151.   #132 Axel re:C.Linthwaite. Saudi Arabia RUBBISH ... 21:42  |  Fed-Up 07/11/07
      152.   Stephen and division using Roman Numerals 21:47  |  Pablo B 07/11/07
      153.   # 134 EricISRAEL DESPERATE TO DRAG US & EUROPE TO WAR WITH IRAN 21:48  |  Fed-Up 07/11/07
      154.   # 95 Sarah 21:48  |  Alex 07/11/07
      155.   # 142 frenz.SILLY POP DOESN`T KNOW SQUATT 21:50  |  Fed-Up 07/11/07
      156.   Alex + Jonathan S 21:59  |  christoph 07/11/07
      157.   # 59 Keep on babbling, Fatmah, in the end you will... 22:00  |  Misha 07/11/07
      158.   Inadequate sanctions now and war later 22:04  |  Voice of Reason 07/11/07
      159.   googleologist = idiotologist 22:06  |  Pablo B 07/11/07
      160.   christoph 22:25  |  Alex 07/11/07
      161.   Nuclear armed Saudi Arabia 22:31  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/11/07
      162.   And Israel has 3.000 spinning Shawarma stands 22:32  |  Fortuna Benmayor 07/11/07
      163.   Axel 22:32  |  christoph 07/11/07
      164.   War by Iran 22:35  |  Oetis 07/11/07
      165.   thank you, fed-up # 155 22:35  |  frenz 07/11/07
      166.   # 106 S re:J.M I Rarely drop these days(JM) Would you Believe .. 22:39  |  Fed-Up 07/11/07
      167.   addendum to my post (#126) to Sarah 22:46  |  christoph 07/11/07
      168.   Tosefta is waiting for election of Obama... 22:54  |  Jewboy 07/11/07
      169.   Mark Lincoln #6 22:58  |  TonyL 07/11/07
      170.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #28 Re: Mark Lincoln 23:04  |  TonyL 07/11/07
      171.   Chris Linthwaite #64 23:08  |  TonyL 07/11/07
      172.   Let Iran Refine some Uranium, then Blow It Up 23:31  |  Efox 07/11/07
      173.   #120, "single shred of evidence" 23:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/11/07
      174.   WHAT*S UP DOC? 00:01  |  Heintze 08/11/07
      175.   Slowman`s wisdom on skipping posts 00:06  |  Press Ass 08/11/07
      176.   #162 TonyL 00:07  |  Chris Linthwaite 08/11/07
      177.   #153 Fed Up 00:08  |  Chris Linthwaite 08/11/07
      178.   googleologist - you know? 00:26  |  Mark Lincoln 08/11/07
      179.   Googlenoid - You clearly have nothing 00:32  |  Mark Lincoln 08/11/07
      180.   Efox - nuclear fallout goes downwind - US soldiers/Israelis/Turks 00:41  |  Pablo B 08/11/07
      181.   Efox - nuclear fallout goes downwind - US soldiers/Israelis/Turks 00:42  |  Pablo B 08/11/07
      182.   Googleologist - how you don`t reason 00:43  |  Mark Lincoln 08/11/07
      183.   googleologist (143), the grandeur of Allah´s bomb 00:58  |  Karl 08/11/07
      184.   mark lincoln apart from a series of name calling 01:07  |  googleologist 08/11/07
      185.   #171, Ms Kohn 01:09  |  Hannah 08/11/07
      186.   #175 Mark Lincoln - 2 year warnings started in 1984 01:11  |  Pablo B 08/11/07
      187.   mark lincoln and the bomber gap 01:11  |  googleologist 08/11/07
      188.   mark lincoln as to how long it would take for iran 01:16  |  googleologist 08/11/07
      189.   # 150 Israel does worry about a state with no identiti, however.. 01:18  |  Misha 08/11/07
      190.   mark lincoln"we have no proof" 01:26  |  googleologist 08/11/07
      191.   mark lincoln "demonstrable paranoids and self panicking fools" 01:29  |  googleologist 08/11/07
      192.   Mark(180), don´t you remember that the Allah-is-great-bomb 01:36  |  Karl 08/11/07
      193.   Chris Linthwaite 02:08  |  Mark Lincoln 08/11/07
      194.   The curious deployment underway 02:21  |  Mark Lincoln 08/11/07
      195.   argument is BS every one is right 02:24  |  British Iranian 08/11/07
      196.   The Aryan Race are Morons 03:00  |  Ethel 08/11/07
      197.   Iran the moronic race 03:05  |  Ethel 08/11/07
      198.   Hitler left his legacy of racism 03:20  |  Ethel 08/11/07
      199.   Mark Lincoln #176 04:21  |  TonyL 08/11/07
      200.   Mark Lincoln #180 04:34  |  TonyL 08/11/07
      201.   understandably fed up 04:41  |  Labhtas 08/11/07
      202.   I have the solution 04:47  |  Labhras 08/11/07
      203.   # 181 British Iranian - How about end of Iranian State? 05:10  |  17 08/11/07
      204.   Striking a peace for land deal with the arabs 05:54  |  Aounist 08/11/07
      205.   Italy 06:26  |  Jaques 08/11/07
      206.   Mark Lincoln 06:33  |  Stephen in New York 08/11/07
      207.   DANGER! - in Israel. 07:05  |  Maureen Ann 08/11/07
      208.   #50 answering #45 07:20  |  Matt 08/11/07
      209.   #93, 17 07:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/11/07
      210.   #185, Hannah 07:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/11/07
      211.   How many centrifuges does Israel have? 08:09  |  Rich 08/11/07
      212.   #211, Rich 09:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/11/07
      213.   Israel may Attack Iran 09:32  |  Adel 08/11/07
      214.   Tripple Jump Iran is very dangerous 11:48  |  Shoshana Thomasson 08/11/07
     Today Online
    IDF reservists: Hamas men fight like soldiers , not terrorists
    Responses: 82
    Interpol issues wanted notices for Iranians accused of AMIA bombing
    Responses: 33
    UNRWA chief: Blockade on Gaza fuel support for extremists
    Responses: 54
    Haaretz.com TV: Judaism seeking rebirth in Poland
    Responses: 9
    David Grossman snubs Olmert upon receiving prize
    Responses: 32
    Rosner's Domain
    * Does Ron Paul single out Israel?
    * Terrified that Annapolis will fail (WTR)
    * Should American Jews have a voice in shaping Israel's policies?
    * Rosner's Guest: Trying to integrate Judaism and feminism


    More Headlines
    11:19 IDF reservists: Hamas men fight like soldiers
    11:56 PA document: Final agreement within six months of Annapolis
    09:52 Report: Washington concerned Israel gearing up to attack Iran
    11:57 Soccer fans banned from two Beitar home games for booing Rabin
    09:33 Interpol issues wanted notices for Iranians accused of AMIA bombing
    08:43 Syrian envoy to U.S. dismisses Annapolis summit as 'waste'
    11:56 Caretaker: I murdered elderly woman because she pestered me
    05:37 UNRWA chief: Blockade on Gaza is fueling support for extremists
    05:10 Three Dutch couples named Righteous Among the Nations
    05:49 Green groups question location of future IDF training 'city'
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    learn Hebrew online
    with israel's best teachers. Sign up for a trial lesson today
    Invest in Macedonia
    New Business Heaven in Europe
    Long-term Israel programs
    MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM
    The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here!
    Dead Sea Salt
    Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off!
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt.
    Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel
    Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !
    Home| TV| Print Edition| Diplomacy| Opinion| Arts & Leisure| Sports| Jewish World| Underground| Site rules|
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved