DUBAI: American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lashed out against Iran on Tuesday evening, demanding that the country stop enriching uranium. She also condemned the expansion of such operations. Iran last week announced it had begun the enrichment process of uranium, sparking outrage and fear across the region and the globe. In a statement issued late Tuesday, Clinton said Iran's announcement that it was opening a new enrichment facility near Qom was “contrary to its obligations” under multiple international resolutions. “Such enrichment brings Iran a significant step closer to having the capability to produce weapons-grade highly enriched uranium,” she said. Here in Dubai, worries that the enrichment of uranium could lead to a regional war are not lost on analysts. Michael Porjnia, a securities analyst with a leading firm and former political advisor in Europe, told Bikyamasr.com that he fears “Israel and the US will use force and violence against Iran, which would have detrimental shocks throughout the region. Iran announced its expanded enrichment capability on Saturday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed Monday that Iran had begun enriching uranium to 20 percent at the facility in Fordo. Weapons-grade uranium would require a considerably higher percentage of enrichment than 20 percent, experts said, according to dpa. Clinton said the circumstances were “especially troubling” because Iran made the announcement to the IAEA only after the activity had become known. She accused Iran of working covertly for three years to build the facility. Tehran claims it needs the facility to provide fuel for a research reactor. There has been little evidence that Tehran is looking to build a nuclear weapon, but the enrichment of uranium would be the first step, Washington has maintained. Clinton demanded that Iran return to negotiations with the five veto-wielding powers on the UN Security Council – the US, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany. The Iranian government has responded with threats to block the Strait of Hormuz, used by tankers carrying much of Middle-Eastern oil to the rest of the world. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/v7Iqz Tags: Enrichment, featured, United States, Uranium Section: Iran, Latest News, North America
