Iran to Build New Uranium Enrichment Centre

Tehran will begin constructing another enrichment plant by early 2011, head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi, said

Currently, Iran's Natanz enrichment facility is enriching uranium to a level of 20 percent and another facility around Qom, Fordo, is under construction.

Meanwhile Admiral Mike Mullen, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has warned against a military strike against Iran over its nuclear programme.

Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Admiral Mike Mullen said he believes that America's main ally Israel understands that a military attack on Iran would be "incredibly destabilising" to the region.

Mullen went on to accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons and said he believes Tehran will go ahead with its nuclear weapons programmes, even if more sanctions are imposed against the country.

He said it would be "incredibly dangerous" for Iran to achieve nuclear weapons, adding that there is "no reason to trust" Iran's promises that it is pursuing nuclear energy for peaceful applications.

Iran has repeatedly ignored US threats of likely attack on the country, saying its armed forces are capable of countering any military actions.

Western powers accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons, a claim denied by Iranian authorities arguing that as an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) member state and a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; it has the right to have access to the peaceful nuclear technology.