Iran moves closer to confrontation with West over uranium

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran took his country closer to confrontation with the West on Sunday, ordering scientists to enrich Iran's stockpiles of uranium to the higher level needed for nuclear power.

Mr Ahmadinejad's order was the culmination of a series of confusing statements by the regime in the last week. If it is carried out, it will scupper what was hoped to be a looming deal to transfer most of Iran's uranium abroad for further processing. Many in the West want uranium processing to take place outside the country so that fears over a weapons programme are allayed and the country's nuclear plans are better monitored.

European nations and America were already leading calls for more sanctions to be applied to Iran in the absence of a deal. Now if further enrichment starts, they are likely to put proposals to the United Nations security council soon.

"I now ask Dr Salehi to start work on the production of 20 per cent fuel using centrifuges," he said.