Russia dismisses fears of Iran's arms-grade uranium

[burythehatchet]

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20061027/55193367.html

Russia dismisses fears of Iran's arms-grade uranium
19:26 | 27/ 10/ 2006

Print version

MOSCOW, October 27 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian defense minister said Friday he is not worried Iran could acquire weapons-grade uranium.

Iran said earlier Friday it has launched a second cascade of gas centrifuges to enrich uranium. The Islamic Republic's plan to launch its second nuclear centrifuge cascade was announced earlier this week and was confirmed by the UN nuclear watchdog chief, Mohammed ElBaradei.

"I do not share those fears, because I know the situation," said Sergei Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister. "Iran has launched a second cascade of centrifuges, and this process is fully controlled by the IAEA."

He said the centrifuges are working in a test mode and are not being used for uranium enrichment.