Iran plans to accelerate uranium enrichment

ALAN COWELL

Iran has told the UN nuclear supervisory body it plans to install more sophisticated equipment at its principal nuclear enrichment plant, a diplomat said Thursday, enabling it to greatly accelerate its processing of uranium in a move likely to alarm United States, Israel and the West.

The diplomat, based in Vienna which is the headquarters of the IAEA, cited a letter from Iranian officials to the IAEA saying it wants to upgrade its main enrichment plant at Natanz. The upgrade could speed up enrichment by as much as two or three times, the diplomat said.

The disclosure came at a time of high regional tension, as US officials said Israeli warplanes struck deep inside Syria Wednesday. Iran is a close regional ally of both Syria and Hezbollah. While an accelerated Iran nuclear programme would add to regional uncertainties — possibly renewing Israeli threats to strike at Iran's nuclear facilities — there was no immediate indication that the development was related to events in Syria.

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