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President Shimon Peres meeting with Italian PM Romano Prodi in Rome. (AP)
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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.
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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
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      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  |