Defying sanctions, Iran plans more atomic reactors

Tehran, which insists its nuclear work is peaceful, said it would build four new reactors for atomic medical research. The US and some of its allies believe Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons, and the Islamic Republic's plans to expand research could encourage calls in the West for more economic pressure against the country.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran will not make "one iota of concessions." He said he will soon announce new conditions for talks with the West, but first he wants to punish world powers for imposing sanctions.

"You showed bad temper, reneged on your promise and again resorted to devilish manners," he said of those powers.

"We set conditions (for talks) so that, God willing, you'll be punished a bit and sit at the negotiating table like a polite child," he told a crowd during a visit to the central Iranian town of Shahr-e-Kord. His speech was broadcast live on state TV.

The Obama administration took its first step in implementing new sanctions Wednesday, leveling penalties against individuals and institutions it says are helping Iran develop its nuclear and missile programs and evade international sanctions.

The White House said the additions to its sanctions list include Iran's Post Bank for its support of nuclear proliferation. That brings to 16 the number of Iranian-owned banks on the US list.

European Union foreign ministers agreed earlier this week to consider tighter sanctions for Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment. US lawmakers also could press for additional embargoes after last week's UN Security Council sanctions - which were backed by Iranian allies Russia and China.

Iran is just one of the unpredictable foes whose nuclear ambitions are challenging the Obama administration.

North Korea, which already has nuclear weapons, warned on Wednesday that ongoing tension over the deadly sinking of a South Korean warship could trigger nuclear war. A team of international investigators concluded that the ship was torn apart March 26 by a North Korean torpedo, an allegation the secretive North strongly denies.

Iran's Parliament speaker Ali Larijani said lawmakers back the government's push to enrich uranium at a higher level since earlier this year as a response to "bullying countries." Iran currently enriches uranium up to 20 percent levels - far short of the 95 percent plus enriched uranium needed for an atomic weapon, but well above the 3.5 percent level needed to fuel a reactor to produce electricity. Iran has justified its decision to go to higher enrichment by saying it needed to create fuel for a research reactor producing medical isotopes.

Iran's nuclear chief said there are plans to build four new medical research reactors, including one "more powerful" than the main facility, an aging 5-megawatt US-made research reactor operating in Tehran.

The reactor Iran says it is designing will be similar to the US-made reactor, but it has released few other details. It and any additional reactors will need 20 percent enriched uranium, as does the US-made model.

Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted by state TV's website as saying the new research reactor is for radioactive isotopes for medical needs of patients in Iran and abroad.

"Designing the reactor will be completed by the year end and two years will be needed to construct it. ... Our plan is to build four reactors in four corners of the country so that, given the short life of nuclear medicine, all patients will get the products throughout Iran," the website quoted him as saying.

Salehi also said Iran possesses technology to produce fuel rods for such reactors and the first should be ready sometime next spring.

The announcements reflect Iran's confusing response to the UN sanctions.

Ahmadinejad has countered with dismissive remarks, but also claims the door is open for dialogue on the nuclear standoff. The huge obstacle, however, is that the talks must be on Iran's terms.

Ahmadinejad also attacked the US, saying Iran needs to save Americans from "their undemocratic and bullying government." He charged that the US government controls what newspapers print and that its people cannot hold rallies opposing government policies, Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com for full version.