Iran reveals second and third generation of nuclear centrifuges; Ahmadinejad ignores parliament approval regarding merger of ministers
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • According to reports, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has unveiled the second and the third generation of the country’s latest nuclear centrifuges. According to Director of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Fereydoun Abbasi, Iran is currently using the first generation of its centrifuges to produce uranium enriched to the purity level of just below 5 percent. Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Abbasi said efforts should be made to make Iran the hub of nuclear technology. Ahmadinejad also criticized Western countries for adopting double-standard policies, saying the West is causing a commotion at a time when the Bushehr nuclear power plant has not even completely come on stream.1

    In another development, Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made another bold move in his power struggle with rival conservative by firing three key Cabinet ministers and bypassing several steps that require parliamentary approval. The dismissals are an apparent attempt by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to send a message of defiance to critics in parliament, who are now emboldened after Ahmadinejad lost a humbling confrontation with Iran’s supreme leader. A new law requires Ahmadinejad to trim his government from 21 to 17 ministries. Parliament has pushed for the restructuring of the government, which lawmakers say is oversized. Firing the three ministers paves the way for merging several ministries, but plans for the restructuring were supposed to have been drawn up first and approved by parliament. Ahmadinejad and his backers are struggling to regroup after a stinging public rebuke by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over Iran’s intelligence minister, whom Ahmadinejad wanted off his Cabinet. The supreme leader ordered him reinstated.2

    Top