Ahmadinejad orders to start production of higher enriched uranium

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ordered his country's atomic agency to start the production of higher enriched uranium. He said in remarks aired Sunday on state television: "God willing, 20 percent enrichment will start" to meet Iran's needs. He did not give a date for the start of the enrichment process.

Speaking at a meeting attended by the head of Iran's atomic energy agency, Ali Akbar Salehi, Ahmadinejad stated: "Mr. Salehi, begin production of 20 percent" enriched uranium.

"We had told them (the West) to come and have a swap, although we could produce the 20 percent enriched fuel ourselves," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying. "We gave them two-to-three months' time for such a deal. They started a new game and now I (ask) Dr Salehi to start work on the production of 20 percent fuel using centrifuges," he said.

But he added: "The doors for interaction are still open." Ahmadinejad also said Iran had the capability to enrich uranium using laser technology, without elaborating.