'Nuclear' energy Iran marks revolution day


Iran celebrates 31st revolution anniversary amid internal conflicts, more US-led sanctions.


TEHRAN - Hundreds of thousands of Iranians gathered Thursday at a Tehran square to mark the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution.

State television showed footage of men, women and children carrying banners reading "Death to America, Death to Israel!" crowded into Azadi (Freedom) Square in southwest Tehran to mark the day the US-backed dictator the shah was toppled in 1979.

"The 22 of Bahman (February 11) is the symbol of Iranian unity," said state television as it reported that a million Iranians had gathered at Azadi Square.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad boasted Iran was now a nuclear energy nation as he announced on Thursday the production of its first highly enriched uranium on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

"One day they said we cannot enrich uranium, but with the resistance of our leader, nation ... and with the help of God, the Iranian nation has become nuclear," Ahmadinejad said.

Celebrations to mark the day the shah was toppled have been traditionally festive, and an opportunity for Iranian leaders to showcase popular support for the establishment.

But this year, opposition groups — led by some of the founding fathers of the Islamic republic — sought to hijack the national day as they continue to reject the legitimacy of President Ahmadinejad's government.

The elite Revolutionary Guards and police have warned they will crack down heavily on any protests which.

"If anyone wants to disrupt this glorious ceremony, they will be confronted by people and we too are fully prepared," police chief Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam warned on Wednesday.

Iran's all-powerful supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says he wants Thursday's celebration to be a show of unity and to deliver a stunning "punch" to "arrogant" powers.

Khamenei — the commander-in-chief who has the final say on all key national issues — has openly sided with Ahmadinejad, dismissed allegations of fraud in the election, blamed the US for the post-poll unrest and slammed continuing dissent as "sedition".

The United States meanwhile imposed new sanctions on Iran's all-powerful Revolutionary Guard, ordering a freeze on assets of an individual and four firms linked to the unit.



"They (Americans) want to dominate our region but the Iranian people will never let them do that," Ahmadinejad said in his speech.

"The head of the atomic energy organisation (Ali Akbar Salehi) said the first stock of 20 percent fuel was produced and delivered to scientists," he added.

A restricted document of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Thursday that Iran had informed the UN watchdog on Monday that it would start enriching uranium to 20 percent from Tuesday.

The one-page document said Iran had said it intended to enrich a small amount — about 10 kilogrammes (22 pounds) — to the higher level and had asked for the agency's inspectors to be present at the enrichment plant at Natanz.

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano noted that Iran currently had just one cascade of centrifuges at the Natanz plant capable of the additional enrichment.

Earlier this week, Iran's atomic chief Salehi said the separate cascade was "more on a lab scale," suggesting its output would be limited.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned on Thursday that international patience with Iran was running out.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini urged international unity over sanctions against Iran.

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