Iran Ups Its Nuclear Game

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization to begin work on a higher-grade nuclear fuel for a Tehran medical-research reactor, according to Reuters. His announcement comes in direct opposition to a plan, agreed upon last year by Iran and six major powers, for the country to send its low-enriched uranium abroad in exchange for higher-refined fuel and to quell fears about Tehran’s ability to make an atomic bomb. In a televised speech, Ahmadinejad said, “We had told them (the West) to come and have a swap, although we could produce the 20 percent enriched fuel ourselves.” His comments prompted U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to again call on the international community for sanctions to halt Iran’s nuclear work.