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UN Criticism Prompted New Nuclear Plans: Iran

Blames UN agency for plan to build 10 enrichment plants

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 30, 2009 6:22 AM CST

(AP) – In a flamboyant rebuke to the international community, the Iranian nuclear chief said today it's the UN's fault that Tehran is planning to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities. The decision was necessary, Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi told state radio, because the UN atomic watchdog demanded that Iran halt all enrichment activities. Yesterday, the cabinet ordered Iran's nuclear authority to begin construction on new facilities at five sites that have already been studied and propose five other locations for future construction within two months.

France, meanwhile, pressed for new sanctions against Tehran, the AP reports. The French defense minister said that the international community should "probably commit toward new economic sanctions against Iran," as it's been "clear for weeks that the extended hand of Barack Obama and the extended hand of the international community ... are not working."

In this Nov. 23, 2009 file photo, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gestures during a news conference at the Itamaraty palace in Brasilia.
In this Nov. 23, 2009 file photo, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gestures during a news conference at the Itamaraty palace in Brasilia.   (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)
Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani speaks with media, during his press conference in the parliament, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009.
Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani speaks with media, during his press conference in the parliament, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
Non-deep-thinker
Dec 1, 2009 1:43 AM CST
Iran is "10% on the dangerous scale". .. LOL. Respondents in the survey rated Iran as tied for 2nd place as the most dangerous country in the world. Nice try at manipulating the data.
Rob
Nov 30, 2009 12:57 PM CST
"It's the UN's fault we're building 10 new plants." Playground politics. But who didn't know this was going to happen? There will be disaster one way or the other, for the Iranians or for a victim of the Iranians.
Fondue
Nov 30, 2009 8:13 AM CST
Cego, you get my point correctly. Iran and the ME's behavior in general has always been sketchy.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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