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Goodbye Iran!
Iran has started loading domestically made nuclear fuel at a major research reactor for the first time - a defiant move in response to toughening Western sanctions.
The loading ceremony at the plant in Tehran was attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and filmed on state TV.
Iran's deputy nuclear negotiator Ali Baqeri said the country had developed its own nuclear fuel because the West had refused to help them.
The news came as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of destabilising the world and called for its aggression to be halted.
Mr Netanyahu referred to a series of bomb attacks this week in India, Georgia and Thailand, which Israel has blamed on Iran.
Iran has denied the attacks, two of which targeted Israeli diplomats. Western officials believe the attacks were in revenge for the assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists.
Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran is destablising the world
"At this time, Iran's terrorist activities have been exposed to everyone," Mr Netanyahu said, accusing Iran of "harming innocent diplomats across the world".
Tensions over the Islamic republic were further heightened by news of the devlopments at the reactor in Tehran.
"We began enriching uranium to 20% in order to make fuel rods because Western countries are not ready to help us," Mr Baqeri said.
"And for the first time, fuel rods produced by Iranian scientists will be installed in the presence of the Islamic Republic's president in Tehran's research reactor on Wednesday," he added.
Against the background of intensive co-operation over recent months between Iran and al Qaeda - with a view to conducting a joint attack against Western targets overseas… Iran has significantly stepped up its investment, maintenance and improvement of operational and intelligence ties with the al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan in recent months.
An intelligence source tells Sky News about the worrying relationship between Iran and al Qaeda - click above to read the full story
Iran has previously argued that the 20% enriched uranium was necessary for its Tehran research reactor to make isotopes for treating cancers.
Western powers and Israel fear the enrichment is a part of Tehran's drive to produce nuclear weapons.
Mr Ahmadinejad said earlier this week that he was set to announce "great" nuclear achievements.
He did not give any details, but insisted that Iran would never halt its programme to enrich uranium, which can be used to make a nuclear warhead.
Experts believe that Iran is also set to announce the formal inauguration of the underground Fordo uranium enrichment site in central Iran.
President Barack Obama last week said that America would work with Israel to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons.
He said Israel's government was "rightly" very concerned about Iran's nuclear programme.
The loading ceremony at the plant in Tehran was attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and filmed on state TV.
Iran's deputy nuclear negotiator Ali Baqeri said the country had developed its own nuclear fuel because the West had refused to help them.
The news came as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of destabilising the world and called for its aggression to be halted.
Mr Netanyahu referred to a series of bomb attacks this week in India, Georgia and Thailand, which Israel has blamed on Iran.
Iran has denied the attacks, two of which targeted Israeli diplomats. Western officials believe the attacks were in revenge for the assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists.
Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran is destablising the world
"At this time, Iran's terrorist activities have been exposed to everyone," Mr Netanyahu said, accusing Iran of "harming innocent diplomats across the world".
Tensions over the Islamic republic were further heightened by news of the devlopments at the reactor in Tehran.
"We began enriching uranium to 20% in order to make fuel rods because Western countries are not ready to help us," Mr Baqeri said.
"And for the first time, fuel rods produced by Iranian scientists will be installed in the presence of the Islamic Republic's president in Tehran's research reactor on Wednesday," he added.
Against the background of intensive co-operation over recent months between Iran and al Qaeda - with a view to conducting a joint attack against Western targets overseas… Iran has significantly stepped up its investment, maintenance and improvement of operational and intelligence ties with the al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan in recent months.
An intelligence source tells Sky News about the worrying relationship between Iran and al Qaeda - click above to read the full story
Iran has previously argued that the 20% enriched uranium was necessary for its Tehran research reactor to make isotopes for treating cancers.
Western powers and Israel fear the enrichment is a part of Tehran's drive to produce nuclear weapons.
Mr Ahmadinejad said earlier this week that he was set to announce "great" nuclear achievements.
He did not give any details, but insisted that Iran would never halt its programme to enrich uranium, which can be used to make a nuclear warhead.
Experts believe that Iran is also set to announce the formal inauguration of the underground Fordo uranium enrichment site in central Iran.
President Barack Obama last week said that America would work with Israel to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons.
He said Israel's government was "rightly" very concerned about Iran's nuclear programme.
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