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From DEBKA

He did not disclose its content. DEBKAfile reports he intends to disclose as an accomplished fact that Iran has completed the process of uranium enrichment. Tehran’s intention is to force the International Atomic Energy Agency and the world to recognize that Iran has joined the international atomic energy club.

The announcement is embarrassingly due as five IAEA nuclear inspectors, who arrived last Friday, April 7, scour Iran for concealed enrichment sites. It is a slap in the face for the watchdog’s director Mohamed ElBaradei, who is expected later this week.

According to our Iranian sources, the word going round the majlis in Tehran is that the head of Iran’s nuclear energy agency Gholamreza Aghazadeh is about to deliver news of a “great achievement.” Some sources expect the achievement to consist of success in purifying uranium to 3.5%, which is still below the 8-9% level of nuclear fuel and far less than the 80% for weapons-grade fuel.

Nonetheless, Iran’s ability to enrich sufficient uranium to fuel its reactors without having to rely on imports is a significant breakthrough which opens the way for improved results.

To preserve the secrecy of the enrichment site, the Iranians will no doubt claim that have achieved success in laboratory conditions. The Iranian president’s announcement is a serious rebuff to the UN Security Council’s efforts to persuade Iran to give up its attempts to enrich uranium.