Doubts Remain Over Iran's Nuclear Claims

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaks at a ceremony in Iran's nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, 300 kms 186 (miles) south of capital Tehran, Iran, Monday April, 9, 2007. Iran announced Monday that it has begun enriching uranium with 3,000 centrifuges, a dramatic expansion of a nuclear program that has drawn U.N. sanctions and condemnation from the West. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Monday at a ceremony at the enrichment facility at Natanz that Iran was now capable of enriching nuclear fuel "on an industrial scale." Asked if Iran has begun injecting uranium gas into 3,000 centrifuges for enrichment, top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani replied, "Yes." He did not elaborate, but it was the first confirmation that Iran had installed the larger set of centrifuges after months of saying it intends to do so. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian) (Hasan Sarbakhshian - AP)

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei noted: "There are announcements, and then there is technological reality."

A U.S. official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said concern over the announcement was tinged with a "high degree of skepticism" in Washington that Iran "had attained all what they said they had."

The Vienna-based diplomats _ all of whom also demanded anonymity _ noted that this time, unlike in the past, Iranian officials presented no photos to document their claims. Nor did they offer any other physical proof of their claims.

Iran has refused to allow IAEA cameras at Natanz intended to make sure no low-enriched uranium is diverted into making weapons-grade material. But diplomats said Tuesday the government may be ready to allow inspectors to stay near the facility, allowing more frequent unannounced visits.

Two U.N. inspectors arrived in Iran Tuesday to visit the Natanz plant, Iranian media reported.

But any such deal would be less than what the agency wants. The diplomats said it was unclear whether inspectors would be allowed access to all parts of the enrichment operation _ including a walled-off section. And they said that _ unlike remote cameras _ the IAEA experts would not be able to constantly monitor operations.

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Associated Press writer Vladimir Isachenkov contributed to this report from Moscow.