Iran announces first domestically made nuclear fuel

BBC : For the first time, Iran has used nuclear fuel made in one of its own uranium enrichment facilities. The country began working toward nuclear self-sufficiency two years ago, after the collapse of a deal to procure reactor fuel from abroad. The facility at Natanz houses newer enrichment centrifuges that are three times as efficient as their predecessors; the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed in January that Iran had begun producing uranium enriched up to 20% at its Qom plant. The US and EU have imposed new sanctions targeting Iranian oil sales in order to increase international pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program, which is widely believed to include the goal of making weapons. According to James Reynolds, Iran correspondent for the BBC, part of Iran’s intention in producing its own fuel is to demonstrate that international sanctions won’t make any difference.