Iran is now a nuclear state: Ahmadinejad

Tehran, Feb 11: Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that the Islamic republic has produced a first batch of uranium enriched to a level of 20 percent.

Iran is now a "nuclear state", Ahmadinejad made the announcement in a speech at Tehran's Azadi (Freedom) Square on Thursday, Feb 11.

"I want to announce with a loud voice here that the first package of 20 per cent fuel was produced and provided to the scientists," he said.

Ahmadinejad, however, insisted Iran has no intention of building atomic weapons.

"When we say we do not manufacture the bomb, we mean it, and we do not believe in manufacturing a bomb," he was quoted by news agency as saying.

On Tuesday, Feb 9, Iran had announced that it was beginning the process of enriching its uranium stockpile to a higher level.

OneIndia News