In an address on June 3, Salehi, who is also director of the Iranian
Atomic Energy Organization, said Bushehr would begin full operations by
September 2010. He said any international sanctions on Iran would not halt
Iran's nuclear operations.
"Even if approved in the United Nations Security Council, a new
anti-Iran resolution will be ineffective," Salehi said.
Iran has been reporting the imminent launch of Bushehr for about two
years. The project, headed by Russia's state-owned Atomstroyexport, has been
delayed by about a decade by technical and political obstacles.
In his address, Salehi said Iran would become self-sufficient in nuclear
fuel. He said Teheran has achieved what he termed significant progress in
the discovery and excavation of uranium.
Iran has offered to send 1,200 kilograms of 3.5 percent enriched uranium
to Turkey. As part of the deal, Iran would receive 120 kilograms of uranium
enriched to 20 percent, meant to be suitable for a medical isotope reactor.
On May 31, the IAEA released a report that said Iran accumulated more
than two tons of enriched uranium. Agency officials said this was sufficient
for the assembly of two nuclear warheads.
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