IRAN IGNORES U.N., PROGRESSES WITH NUKE WORK

Iran Continues Nuclear Work Despite Deadline, Sanction Threat - Dafna Linzer and Colum Lynch
Despite the threat of new sanctions, Iran is advancing work at its largest nuclear facility and has informed international inspectors in writing that it will not comply with a UN order to suspend the program. The Security Council on Dec. 23 set a 60-day deadline for the Tehran government to halt its nuclear work. Since then Iran has installed nearly 400 centrifuges, in two separate lines, at its uranium-enrichment facility in Natanz. U.S., British, and French officials said they will respond to Iran's defiance by pressing for additional economic sanctions, including an enforced travel ban on senior Iranian officials, asset freezes, and an end to government-backed loans and credits. (Washington Post)

See also Iran Accelerating Nuclear Enrichment Activities - Daniel Dombey
Mohamed ElBaradei, the UN's chief nuclear inspector, suggested Iran's test centrifuges were now functioning smoothly after early teething pains. He said Iran could be six months to a year away from operating an industrial size cascade of 3,000 centrifuges. If 3,000 centrifuges ran smoothly for a year, they could produce enough material for a bomb. Meir Dagan, the head of Israel's Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, in December told the Knesset that by 2008, Iran would be able to develop 25 kg. of highly enriched uranium - enough for a bomb - and a weapon the following year. (Financial Times-UK)