New Iran Nuke Move Prompts Sanctions Call
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1:59pm UK, Tuesday February 09, 2010
Dominic Waghorn,
Middle East correspondent
Israel’s Prime Minister has called for “crippling sanctions” against Iran after the country declared it is stepping up uranium enrichment to the significant level of 20% purity.
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Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Iran is rushing forward to produce nuclear weapons.
“I believe that what is required right now is tough action by the international community.
“This means crippling sanctions and these sanctions must be applied right now.”
At the moment Iran enriches uranium to a level of 3.5%, but says it needs 20% to be able to produce medical isotopes.
Experts say it is a significant step towards the higher level of enrichment needed for a bomb.
International Institute for Strategic Studies spokesman Mark Fitzpatrick said: “Technology for enriching uranium is basically the same whether you are enriching it at 3.5% for use in power reactors, or 20% for use in the Tehran research reactor, or 93% for use in nuclear weapons.”
Israel accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons while pretending to build civilian power plants.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Iran has been conducting low-level enrichment of uranium in the central city of Natanz for several years, in defiance of three sets of UN sanctions.
The US and France say they will push for “strong” new UN sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear drive.
China has called for more dialogue in place of sanctions. Russia has shown signs it is warming to the idea of supporting more action against Iran.
Israel, the only Middle Eastern country thought to already be nuclear armed, says it is still considering all options to deal with Iran, including military action.
Israel is thought to have repeatedly drilled its military to prepare for an airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Iran’s leader Mahmoud Ahmedinejad has often disputed the extent of the Holocaust and whether it took place.
He has also called for Israel to be ‘wiped from the pages of history’.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made dealing with the Iranian threat one of his highest political priorities.
admin @ February 9, 2010