Iran starts process of enriching uranium to 60 percent fissile purity at nuclear plant

(MENAFN)According to Iranian officials, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) declared that Iran has started the process of enriching uranium to 60 percent fissile purity at the nuclear plant in Natanz. The UN nuclear watchdog further declared that "The Agency today verified that Iran had begun the production of UF6 enriched up to 60 percent... at the (above-ground) Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant.� Reuters reported more information in a confidential IAEA report to member states. The report further declared that "According to Iran's declaration to the Agency, the enrichment level of the UF6 produced at PFEP was 55.3 percent U-235. The Agency took a sample of the produced UF6 for destructive analysis to independently verify the enrichment level declared by Iran. The results of this analysis will be reported by the Agency in due course." "The level of UF6 enrichment produced by Iran has been 55.3 percent," stated Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna.