Middle East, Nuclear | featured news

Ahmadinejad says first batch of higher enriched uranium produced: Iran now "a nuclear state."

Iran is experiencing surprising setbacks in its efforts to enrich uranium, according to new assessments that suggest equipment failures could undermine its nuclear ambitions.

Iran said it has begun enriching some of its low-grade uranium for use in a medical-research reactor, brushing off fresh international threats of economic sanctions.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad tells his atomic energy chief to boost uranium enrichment from 3.5% to 20% as talks over a nuclear-fuel exchange sputter.

Iran announced the test-firing of a powerful rocket loaded with several live animals into space and unveiled a handful of other space technologies Wednesday, ahead of a nationalist holiday and amid heightened international concerns about Tehran's nuclear research and missile programs.

Iran said on Monday it would take revenge on its arch-foes Israel and the United States for the killing of an Iranian scientist last week, media reported.

The missile could easily reach Israel. Coupled with suspicions about Tehran's nuclear program, it stokes international concerns.

Iran risks increased international sanctions for failing to engage in talks on its nuclear ambitions.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's parliament will review the Islamic republic's relations with countries that voted against its nuclear activities at the International Atomic Energy Agency last week, the speaker said on Thursday.

Iran's belated revelation of a second uranium enrichment site raises concern about possible further secret nuclear sites in the country, according to a U.N. nuclear watchdog report on Monday obtained by Reuters.