Iran Keeps Foot Down on Nuclear Program, Promises Critical Uranium Enrichment within Year

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Iran has confirmed that it will build its second nuclear reactor in the northwestern city of Bonab. Fereidoun Abbasi, chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said that the research reactor will be "harmless" and will be used for medical purposes. "Iran is self-sufficient in producing nuclear fuel material and can even export specialized services in the field of nuclear energy," he said.

Iran will double its nuclear energy production in the coming 12 months. "So far, 1,000 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power has been generated in the country. At present, the necessary infrastructure and essential equipment are being prepared inside the country."

Abbasi added that nuclear power production will go up to 2,000 MW and that over the next five years, the country intends to up its nuclear capacity to 20,000 MW.

Concurrent with Abbasi's remarks, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the country plans to create "an epic" later this year, which was reported to refer to the country's nuclear program. He said that Iran will bury "enemies' hopes" of imposing a clampdown on Iran over its controversial nuclear program.

Iran also has said that it would enrich uranium to 50% purity, a critical level for nuclear weapons production and nuclear submarine fuel.

For related information, see April 18, 2013, article - Iran Vows to Build More Nuclear Reactors as Two Major Earthquake Strike in Two Weeks.

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