Iran continuing uranium enrichment: IAEA

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2006

VIENNA (AFP) — Iran is continuing uranium enrichment as well as building new production lines for the centrifuge machines that carry out the sensitive nuclear work, the United Nations nuclear watchdog said in a report obtained by AFP.

The development dashes hopes that Tehran might be prepared to make an immediate pause in activities that can lead to the development of nuclear weapons.

"On June 6 2006, (Iran) started feeding UF6 (uranium gas) into the 164-machine cascade (line of centrifuges). Iran is continuing its installation work on other 164-machine cascades," said the report from Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The report said there had in fact been no pause in enrichment since the first batch of uranium was...