Iran Producing Yellowcake, Enriched Fuel Rods

Ahmadinejad loaded the first fuel rod into a reactor in Tehran on live television.

Unfettered by UN sanctions, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled a series of local nuclear projects on state television today, including new, advanced centrifuges. Donning a scientific-looking white lab coat, he loaded domestically produced uranium-enriched fuel rods into a reactor in Tehran. Ahmadinejad also said Iran would start making yellowcake, which is used to enrich uranium. The country still claims the advancements are for energy and medical purposes, though the UN’s nuclear watching has reported that Iran has tested potential bomb components. Earlier today, global oil prices fluctuated dramatically amid reports that Iran was cutting off its supply of oil to the Netherlands, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and Italy. The Iranian government has since denied that claim.