E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSIranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad showed off new fuel rods at a research reactor in Tehran. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Updated at 1:30 p.m. ET: Iran claimed Wednesday that it has taken two major steps toward mastering the production of nuclear fuel, a defiant move in response to increasingly tough Western sanctions over its controversial nuclear program.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, said that Iran was destabilizing the world.
Israel has accused Iran of waging a campaign of state terror and has threatened military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, while Iran has blamed the Jewish state for the recent killings of Iranian atomic scientists. Iran has denied responsibility for three bombing incidents this week.
In Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad oversaw the insertion of the first Iranian domestically-made fuel rod into a research reactor in northern Tehran, the country's official IRNA news agency reported.
Separately, the semiofficial Fars agency reported that a "new generation of Iranian centrifuges" had been installed and had gone into operation at the country's main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz in central Iran.
The West suspects Iran's nuclear program is aimed at producing atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies, insisting it's geared for peaceful purposes only, such as energy production.
The crisis has already resulted in sanctions placed on Iran's economy, and there are fears that it could escalate to military action.
Iran: Nuclear facilities immune to cyber attack
Iran's nuclear announcements came as the country said Wednesday it halted oil exports to six European countries — the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Portugal — in response to recent new European Union sanctions.
State TV later quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying crude oil exports to Europe had not yet been cut, reversing that earlier report.
Hasan Tajik said six European diplomats were summoned Wednesday and told that Iran has no problem replacing customers — an implied threat that Tehran would carry out plans to cut European Union countries off immediately to preempt sanctions set to go into effect in July.
Iran has said it is forced to manufacture nuclear fuel rods, which provide fuel for reactors, on its own since international sanctions ban it from buying them on foreign markets. In January, Iran said it had produced its first such fuel rod.
IRNA boasted that the nuclear fuel announcement is the final step in the entire cycle of nuclear fuel — from extracting uranium ore to producing the finished rods.
Amid rising tensions with Israel, Iran says they are willing to resume nuclear talks with the World Security Council. The Woodrow Wilson Center's Robin Wright talks about Iran's nuclear developments.
'Terror operations'
Israel's Netanyahu reiterated claims that Iran was behind explosions this week that targeted Israeli diplomats in India and the former Soviet republic of Georgia, as Israeli officials strongly suggested Iran was behind bomb blasts in Bangkok Tuesday.
"If this aggression isn't halted, ultimately it will spread to many other countries," Netanyahu said.
"Iran's terror operations are now exposed for all to see," Netanyahu added, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. "Iran is undermining the world's stability and harms innocent diplomats. World countries must condemn Iran's terror acts and draw a red line."
PhotoBlog: Graphic photo of bomb scene
On Monday in New Delhi, an explosion tore through an Israeli diplomatic vehicle, wounding the driver and a diplomat's wife, according to Indian officials.
On the same day in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, authorities say attackers planted an explosive device on the car of a driver for the Israeli Embassy, but it was discovered and defused before it went off.
Meanwhile, Thailand's government was struggling to piece together what three Iranian men were plotting when a cache of explosives detonated by mistake in their home in Bangkok's busy Sukhumvit Road area Tuesday.
Police released images of three suspects, two of whom were arrested in Thailand, while a third was detained in Malaysia Wednesday.
Bangkok blasts wound Iranian attacker, 4 others
Israel's ambassador to Thailand, Itzhak Shoha, said Wednesday that homemade "sticky" bombs discovered in a Bangkok house after the accidental blast were similar to devices used in India and Georgia, building on his country's claims the incidents are part of a covert terror campaign by Iran.
"They are similar to the ones used in Delhi and in Tbilisi," Shoham said. "From that we can assume that there is the same network of terror." That and the arrests of Iranians in Thailand "again leaves not too much room to assume who was behind it," Shoham said.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast called the allegations "baseless," saying Israel was trying to damage its relations with Thailand and fuel "conspiracy" theories.
Thai bomb disposal teams searched the Iranians' house again Wednesday looking for more evidence.
Two of the men were initially detained but Thai immigration police chief Lt. Gen. Wiboon Bangthamai said a third suspect, named as Masoud Sedaghatzadeh, had flown to Malaysia.
The man boarded a flight bound for Kuala Lumpur Tuesday night, Bangthamai said.
However on Wednesday, police in Malaysia said the third suspect had been arrested.
Security forces in Thailand were also searching for an Iranian woman who they said had originally rented the house.
Confessions?
Late Tuesday, Israel's Channel 10 TV quoted unidentified Thai authorities as saying the captured Iranians confessed to targeting Israeli interests.
Thai police have named the Iranian pair in custody as Saeid Moradi, who lost at least one leg in a self-inflicted grenade blast as he tried to flee police, and Mohummad Hazaei, who was detained Tuesday as he tried to board a flight to Malaysia.
Both men are now facing four criminal charges, including possession of explosives, attempted murder, attempted murder of a policeman and causing explosions that damaged property.
Israel accuses Iran of bombings in India, Georgia
Top security agencies called a news conference in which authorities acknowledged to being caught by surprise and said they had little information about who the alleged attackers were or their possible targets.
National Security Council chief Wichean Potephosree said the government had not yet determined if there was any link between the events in Bangkok, New Delhi and Tbilisi.
"We haven't found any links but we are still investigating," Wichean said. "We admit there was magnetic component, aiming at individuals, but the origin of the magnets still has to be investigated."
Israel teams with terror group to kill Iran's nuclear scientists, U.S. officials tell NBC News
When police searched the house, the bomb squad found and defused two explosives, each made of three or four pounds of C-4 explosives inside a pair of radios.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Iran claims steps toward nuclear self-sufficiency
- Officials: Hundreds die in Honduras prison fire
- Uganda minister shuts down gay rights conference
- Syria's Assad sets referendum date
Leave a Comment:
Lets see...countries that are destabilizing the world....Greece, Iran, China, US, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Chile, Israel, Syria, Libya, Ethiopia, Egypt,...I'm sure that I'm forgetting about 20 more countries but its early and I need to get to work because I don't want to destabilize my life ;)
It is unlikely that such bungled attacks were state-sponsored. The terrorist attacks recently directed against scientists in Iran were more professional and likely were state-sponsored terrorism. Israel is a much greater threat to peace and is the most destabilizing force in the world today.
NewsCover..
You know how dumb you look... Did you know that through all of Israels history, God has never allowed Israel to be destroyed, only punished to bring them closer to him. If America had a quarter of the balls tiny Israeli has(surrounded by terror), then you could start being cocky, fact is, it doesn't. I'm American, love it more than anywhere, but have seen how quickly Amercians can turn against each other in the past couple years.
Furthermore, if you can read correctly, in the Final battle, the entire world's eyes will be set on Israel. Who will wage this fight against here, you said it, my enemy himself. But what you don't realize is it will not be big brother who comes in when Israel finally looks doomed, it will be God himself with his army, and brother, your eyes don't wanna see that vengeance. Quit acting as if God's words are a lie, you need to brush up on fact's, not your arrogance. God will never let Israel be destroyed, never has, never will...America knows that as well...It's then end of his MasterPlan...
Israel's balls would be a lot smaller if they didn't believe that the USA would fight for them. Israel uses us.
MP- "you know how dumb you look"- are you seeing yourself in the mirror? America is war-weary and BROKE. Let the rich brats in charge over there in the sand kingdoms carry the fight. If they want war, let them have it. Keep the US out! America first!!
MP...the stage is setting isn't it...got the non-believers...athiest...false Christians who champion the rich...wroshipping money and power...a country divided by working class and white collar well to do lawyers, doctors, Upper eschelon of corporations, and people who don't want to share with anyone...want it all for themselves or nothing at all. Would throw another human being under a bus if it meant they may not be able to buy their spoilt teen a new car, a second home in Malibu, or to elect someone who isn't in their party no matter how weel the ideas are from the other camp.
And different...Israel has fought off 3 arab nations...in 3 wars...outnumbered 100 to 1, with nothing more than us sending them some supplies...so don't think their balls are small by NO MEANS
3 wars against who... Countries without the resources and connections to fight back.
different...rhymes with ignorent...3 countries...armed to the teeth by the Soviet Union...hundreds of T-32's and T-34's...attacking on 3 sides of Israels' border at once...outnumbering Israel in some estimates a hundred to one. If you don't know your history...don't make remarks to make yourself look stupid Diff.....Soviet Union was Syria's, Jordan's, and Egypt's connection...Oil and being allied with Russia so they'd have interests in the Middle East payoffs was their resource...Tanks, Artillery, guns, and Fighter Jets...What the camel jockey's failure to see...was the stiff resistence a better trained army could have, what defending their homeland can add to the mentality of the Israeli soilder, (example: The south in the Civil War), and the much superior Israeli jet fighter pilots and the American made Jet itself...
I think both countries are pain in the arse of the world. They both want to drag the entire world into a war for their own benefit. The bigger question is what is in the USA's best interest. If Israel wants to go to war with Iran, then they should do so, but not expect us to pick up the pieces. On the other hand, it is not in our best interest to let Iran get a nuclear weapon either. We've had 30 years to get to oil independence and thanks to the Republicans sweetheart relationship with the oil industry, we somewhat NEED Iran's oil (mostly so that other countries don't buy up the oil we use). So, the question is just how badly do we and the rest of the world NEED that oil.
The world should not allow countries like Iran to even get close to building a nuclear weapon. The leaders within these countries careless about human life! They don't even care about their own people! If these nuts had such a weapon? Believe me they would use it...
Also the world should not allow invations to countries that have done nothing against THE WORLD...in the name of peace and democracy...if we ( THE WORLD) do not do such things....we will not have countries running to get weapons to defense themselves....We need to live by example and still we have not reach that point yet. Look what happens when we went to Irak ( Without the WORLD's approval) UN resolution was not considered and they just use it to wipe out their behind....so Do you see that the world will respect and do nothing against such examples? Remenber that corporations are controlling our economy and part of their business is selling weapons to the WORLD and create more wars to benefits from it. US is the #1 exporter ot weapons and do not want to lose such business.
Israel calling Iran " A treat to the world" hahahahah please where was the world when they killed hundreds of Palestinians? Where is the world when they control the Gaza strip like they are the only ones in that zone? Where is the world when they killed Iranian's Scientifics?...they are the bullying boys of the world and have the control of the GOP here at home and they feel that Mitt Rodney will go and strike Iran as he promised it. I would like to see Mitt's Old, Fat and lazy kids going to serve in the military instead of campaigning behind his dad ass! and enjoying fancy life while his dad is promising more wars and attacks to countries who are just looking to defense themselves from all those aggressions.
The Palestinians have a nice vest for you to wear, just don't play with the wires
Hugo Chavez...the American hater of South America...u got nerve carrying that pricks name...he just had the Iraqi nutcase over to his country for dinner....geez...with a name chosen like that for here...we really can take your comments serious...Killed hundreds of Palestinians...only after they lobbed hand grenades and rockets into Israel...or detinated a bomb in a crowded market killing women and kids.....and why does innocent Palestinians get killed in the crossfire???...because the Palestinian cowards like to hide with the women and children hoping the Israeli soilders won't fire on them if their with them...or hiding in a Mosque of all places so when they do get their arses shot they can cry out to other Arab countries that it was done for no reason at all...oh yeah...Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey has killed Palestnians by the thousands over the years of their "peaceful" history...
How in the world do most of you morons hold down a job long enough to buy a computer and internet and post the stupidity you do on forums like these. Unbelievable.
The Israeli's do not want peace. Two reasonable non religious people could have solved the Israeli Palestinian Arab Jew Muslim problem decades ago. Their destiny is to kill each other, murder their women and children and disappear into the sands of time forever. All because they think God is on their side and only their side. Many think the Israelis are smart, I think they are fools. The United States needs to step away from the side of the Israeli's. The only party who could possibly broker a negotiated peace has to be neutral. the truth however is that neither side in this millenia old dispute is sincere about anything except killing their opponent. Does anyone seriously question the fact that these people will eventually engage in a war to the death?? I have no doubt. Keep the US out of this mess, we can't fix it.
Can Iran be serious about its nuclear program being built only for peaceful purposes? Well, one way to gain peace with your enemy is to completely destroy them. In a place where revenge is the only answer there can be no peace--within a society or outside of it.
Forgiveness, although it may at first offend the pride like some great fertilizer may offend the nose, is needed before the seeds of love can sprout and the flowers of peace can blossom. Too many Iranians and Israelis seem to hold to the old eye for an eye lifestyle. They have held to this belief for so long that they now appear to be completely blind to anything else. By living like this they condemn their children and their children's children to a lifetime of suffering. They may harm their enemy but hurt their children as well.
Until greed and corruption are brought under control the world in general will be stirred to war by those who seek power and wealth. Put aside your demands for "justice". Leave vengence to your god or gods. We have only to use our minds if not our hearts to find the answers. Wise compassion and flawless logic are the keys that can unlock the greatest treasures man can hope to find. We have these keys. We need only use them.
The Compassionate Vulcan.
No more U.S. Taxpayer's hard earned money to Israel and the Zionists. These anti-Semites are going to fulfill the Nazi dream of a single World Order and Apartheid, with the Goyim being the victims.
NEVER FORGET - Israel murdered an American Citizen on the flotilla ship. It is time to bring the perpetrators of that crime to the United States for prosecution.
Boycott the Caterpillar company and it's products for supplying the Zionists with bulldozers specially built to illegally raze homes - with most having innocent women and children still in them.
It is time for a Single State solution to the Palestinian/Israeli problem, with Equal Rights for All, including the Right to Vote, the Right to Any Candidate, and the Right of Return for All Palestinians & their Descendants.
One American...by a notcase...when the terrorists of Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebenon, and saudi Arabia have killed thousands of americans and free democracy loving citizens all over the world...What frikin planet are u on calling Israel anti-Semites??!!...Nazis??!!...when the Nazis killed Jews by the million??!!!...yes by all means lets back the Palenstinians who beieve it just to wear a suicide vest and kill innocent people in the name of their definition of freedom and Allah....(give me a break)....
What gaul! ISRAELs aggression is/has been destabilizing the region and threatening the peace of the world with murders and assassinations, terror bombings, ongoing enslavement of the Palestinians in Israeli controlled prison camps also known as Gaza and the West Bank, and an illegal nuke inventory within the control of its' paranoid, unstable, murderous, psychotic hands while Europe and the U.S. are too wimpy to seize and disarm those nukes to prevent a catastrophe of suicidal Israel taking the world with her....Time to get real folks!
What Bull!!!...only thing anyone would get out of your unintellegent remark is that there's a terrorist sypathizer or a palestinian refugee living in florida that's retired....
Iran isn't "destabilizing the world." They know that their scientist was assassinated by Mossad. This is retaliation. The Israeli government had to know this was coming.
Abraham just had to screw those two woman. Religions poison everything.
These acts of terrorism in India and Thailand may not have been state sponsored by Iran. By the same token, the act of blowing up the scientist in Iran may not have been a product of an Israeli government order. These acts could all have been simply criminal acts by leftist groups seeking their own purposes and prompted by their own personal motives. Both Iran and Israel governments have denied involvement. I believe Netanyahu's comments are premature and without proper evidence at this point in time.
Totally agree with other peoples posts. Absolutely no involvement!! Let the other countries in the region herd these crazies for a change! The whold Muslim/Jew deal is so tiring...
Iran has like N.Korea provoked about everyone,continually pushing buttons.Israel seems to have a much shorter fuse and when swatted like a bees nest they WILL sting you bad!I think Iran would be wise to stock up on bee sting meds. They will be needed soon!
watch it tax weary...all the anti-semitics will be on here blaming our troubles with N. Korea on Israel too...as it's their fault our economy is in...their fault our education system is the laughing stock of the world...their fault why their wife left them...and their fault As The World Turns was cancelled.....
What has Iran really done lately????
Not a whole lot. At least they have done nothing Israel has not done ao what's the big deal??
Iran is the aggressor they hate Isreal and the US
Awwww everybody hates you eh? Bull crap! Use the brain that was given to you.
NO nuttyahoo, we will not fall for your propaganda. The first aggressor and distabilizer of the world is israel. I hope this time our dedicated law makers will start working for us Americans and not israelis. They need to remember who elected them in office. israel loves playing the victim card and waits for us to send our sons and daughters to fight and die for them. If that is what our lawmakers want, then they should send they children and grand children to fight...
Whatever...we have NEVER sent troops to fight for Israel...only military aid and they kicked ass overwhelmingly outnumbered with it...at least they used it...we've given miltary aid before to other countries and they end up selling it for the corupt leaders pocket or selling it to to communist and terrorists......stop your anti-Jew propaganda Sam I am...They ARE victims...thousands during the Holy Crusades, thousands during the Russian revolution, and millions by Nazis in WWII...now they are completely surrounded by Muslims who want nothing but all their heads on a stick...and I'd stand with an Israeli any day before I'd stand with a towel head who shakes our hand with one hand while holding a hand grenade in the other behind his back...some of you people are so damn blind its pathetic
And also similar to the ones israel used on the iranian scientists. (accompanied by comedic drum roll)
Bull crap Israel. We see what you and Mosad are trying to do here. Basically you want us to believe you have enemies and we should let you trigger an attack. Surprising none of the so-called targets were killed. The recent attacks look too convenient. And we're stupid right?
Iran's leaders want to be the Caliphate of all Muslim Countries and wants to colonize the world with their brand of Islam. Israel does not want Iran to get nuclear weapons nor do Iran's Muslim neighbors want them to get nukes. Americans do not want a war but Iran will push their neighbors until war happens and this time it won't be just Iraq Israel or the US fighting them. Iran's leaders will bring fire down upon the Iranian people and that will be a sad day for them. These evil leaders of Iran will run and hide when the fighting starts but eventually they will be rooted out and exposed for their crimes against their own people.
What you reading these days? Brains like you allow idiots like Natyahoo to wage wars. get off it
Your remark is rich considering you can not form a grammatically correct sentence. Only a fool would trust a country that oppresses its own people and orders death to those who speak out against its leaders. I have known Muslims who use to live in Iran and so I have some inside information not just what I have read in the news.
Kapoor is a Hindu name...don't u know if it was left up to Iran they'd love to kill Hindus by the million too!!!...An enemy of your enemy should be your friend if you had any political or common sense your Hindu God gave any given cow running down your street!!!!!
Please ignore the fact that Israel teamed up with a known Terrorist Organization to brutally murder Iranian scientists, slaughtered countless thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, and seems to be living in a glass house while throwing stones, everyone.
Muslim/Arab/anti-semetic lies Mophead....
Please notice, everyone, in spite of our differences here, we are posting politely and rationally, with EXCELLENT spelling and grammar. THANK YOU!
eef eet ess knot inportnt to speel lizza muckycowwizky two ilect en saneter uf elaska. yhy shud eet mater hear?
It is time Nutandyahoo started making friends instead of enemies. When your picking a fight with Iran, your up against Russia, and now China, the new Super-Union, thanks to Bush and Cheney and their sword rattleing. Israel would try to take down the whole world with that fight. Of course we have nukes there. A conventional war against China and Russia conbined would be over in a month. Disarm those nukes before it's too late to get them out. Send Clinton and Carter, or whoever the Dems use now to talk some since in to those war mongers, and put John McCain in a rest home before the big one starts. This little spat has potential. And it will be the draft this time, not the National Guard.
It will be the draft AND National Guard as well as all Service Members in every branch. We have too many boots on too many "grounds".