Iran informed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) it will begin higher-grade uranium enrichment within the next few days.

Wednesday, when IAEA nuclear inspectors arrived at the pilot plant, they were informed that Iran had begun to feed the low-enriched uranium into one cascade for test last evening, Reuters reports referring to confidential U.N. memo.

Earlier, on February 9, Iran started enriching uranium to 20%, however the UN memo reads. “We were told it was expected the facility would begin to produce up to 20% uranium within a few days.”

Feb. 10, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated Tehran does not plan to produce nuclear weapon and can defend the country without it. “Iran is against nuclear weapons in principle and we are saying sincerely that we are not seeking to acquire a nuclear bomb,” ITAR-TASS quotes Ahmadinejad.

As NEWS.am reported previuosly, Feb. 7, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended the opening ceremony of laser technology plant and ordered Vice President and Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi to begin enriching uranium to 20% with the centrifuges. After this statement, France and U.S. insisted on UN new sanctions on Iran. U.S. and its allies are developing a “significant regime of sanctions” against Iran. They will be international community’s unified response to Iran’s decision on nuclear program, President Barack Obama stated.

L.A.