3,000 Centrifuges Working, Iran Says
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
BIRJAND, Iran — Iran has achieved a landmark with 3,000 centrifuges fully working in its controversial uranium enrichment program, President Ahmadinejad said today.
Mr. Ahmadinejad has in the past claimed Iran succeeded in installing the 3,000 centrifuges at its uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. Today’s claim was his first official statement that the plant is now fully operating the 3,000 centrifuges.
“We have now reached 3,000 machines,” Mr. Ahmadinejad told thousands of Iranians in Birjand in eastern Iran, in a show of defiance of international demands to halt the program believed to be masking the country’s nuclear arms efforts.
Centrifuges are used in enriching uranium, a process that can produce either fuel for a nuclear reactor or material for a warhead.
America and allies accuse Iran of using a civilian power program as cover to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge and insists it needs the technology to generate power.
