(Image Source: Press TV)

BY STEVEN HSIEH

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Iran is claiming its entire nuclear cycle is now self-sufficient.  

Just a day before Geneva talks with the U.S. and 5 other world powers, the Islamic Republic says its producing yellowcake, or uranium concentrate powder.

While Iranian officials claim their intentions are peaceful, the West believes they’re building a bomb.

Here’s the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization Ali-Akbar Salehi announcing the breakthrough. (Press TV via BBC)

“This means that Iran has become self sufficient in the entire fuel cycle, starting from exploration, and then mining, and then turning it into yellow cake, and then converting it into UF-6, and then enriching it, and then turning it into fuel plates or fuel pellets.”

Salehi let UN leaders know international sanctions won’t stop Iran’s nuclear progress.  Net 2 Nepal reports he also offered these kind words:

“Again Iran has shown the ill-wishers and international criminals that we are standing up to pressures and resistance is the first lesson of our revolution and we would like to assure you that we will make you regret your devilish moves.”

…Okay…

A CNN reporter says the timing of the announcement, just before Iran meets with world powers about its nuclear program, makes perfect sense.

“Iran loves to posture.  It loves to send out big headlines before big events.  This is an announcement to send a message to Washington and its allies that Iran is not negotiating from a position of weakness.  That, despite all the sanctions and outside pressure, its making progress with what it calls a peaceful nuclear program.  Of course Washington and its allies say their convinced Iran is after a bomb.”

A writer for the L.A. Times says Iranian leaders will head into to the talks with the goal of wading sanctions and getting help in suppressing its internal opposition, the “green movement.”  He writes the U.S. should do the opposite.

“The imposition of sanctions is important but by itself insufficient. Should the U.S. and its allies align their policy with the aspirations of the green movement, Washington would finally have leverage that can impress its Iranian interlocutors.”

So, what do you think?  Will Iran’s batch of yellowcake give it a leg up in the Geneva talks?
 

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