Iran Increases Uranium Enrichment

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has begun to triple its capacity to enrich uranium, a process that can produce fuel for nuclear weapons or power plants, Iranian President Ahmadinejad announced yesterday on state television.

Iran already has about 3,000 centrifuges operating, according to international inspectors. Mr. Ahmadinejad said that his country had begun installing 6,000 more. Arms control experts estimate that 3,000 centrifuges, operating continuously for one year, can produce enough highly enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb.

Iran's nuclear ambitions worry America and its allies, which accuse Iran of using a civilian atomic energy program to mask a drive for weapons of mass destruction. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled nuclear weapons are against Islam, and the country's leaders insist their nuclear program is meant only to produce energy.

Mr. Ahmadinejad trumpeted the country's nuclear accomplishments while inspecting the enrichment facility in the central Iranian city of Natanz on the country's third annual National Day of Nuclear Technology, which marks the anniversary of the day Iran began producing enriched uranium. Iran's state-controlled television and radio have been broadcasting promotional programs touting Iran's nuclear achievements. In downtown Tehran, pro-government activists distributed sweets to passersby in commemoration of the holiday.

Enriched uranium is produced by processing uranium gas through small, sensitive high-speed centrifuges. It can be used for producing fuel for a power plant or, if highly concentrated, fuel for a nuclear bomb. A pro-government daily newspaper, Kayhan, reported that Iran may unveil 600 so-called "IR-2" centrifuges last night that spin four times faster than the older devices. The centrifuges are already operating, Kayhan reported.

"In addition to installation of 6,000 new centrifuges, there are also reports about other new achievements which will be announced tonight on television news programs," Mr. Ahmadinejad said.

Many American, European, and Israeli officials fear Iran could quickly become a nuclear weapons power once it masters the enrichment cycle.