Iran's decision backtracks from a pledge made in October to the European Union's "big three" member states -- Britain, France and Germany -- to suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities.

"We have started building centrifuges," Kharrazi said at a news conference.

Iran said it would restart making centrifuges to retaliate against a resolution from the U.N. nuclear watchdog that deplored Tehran's failure to cooperate fully with inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Diplomats say Iran has restarted work at a uranium conversion facility near the central city of Isfahan.

This plant turns processed ore, or yellowcake, into uranium hexafluoride gas, which is pumped into centrifuges to form enriched uranium.

The Japan Times Weekly: Aug. 7, 2004
(C) All rights reserved