Iran Makes Nuclear Plant Fully Operational

Iran has broken the seals to fully activate an atomic processing facility but reportedly is willing to continue negotiations on its nuclear program.

In Austria, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board was expected to press Iran to halt converting uranium at Isfahan about 250 miles south of Tehran, CNN reported.

Iran started the process Monday without breaking any U.N. seals. However, it did break seals Wednesday when a U.N. inspector was present to convert uranium concentrate into a gas, the state-run Iranian news agency reported.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a phone call that Iran is willing to continue talks on its nuclear program, the state news agency said.

Iran suspended its nuclear program in October 2003 under intense international pressure and fears it would build a nuclear bomb.

However, the Islamic Republic earlier this week rejected a European proposal and said it would resume nuclear conversion operations it says are for peaceful purposes.