Iran has officially confirmed that it has stepped up uranium enrichment by injecting gas into a second network of centrifuges.
The second cascade of centrifuges will double Iran's uranium enrichment capability from the previous cascade of 164 centrifuges.
Hamid Reza Haji Babayi, the Iranian Deputy Parliament Speaker, says this is not an illegal move and is merely part of the ongoing process of uranium enrichment in Iran.
"What we have done is not something new and the process of the uranium enrichment is going on in our country. We had prepared 164 centrifuges before and we are going to prepare the same number later on. This is not illegal."
Injecting gas into centrifuges can yield either nuclear fuel or material for a warhead, but experts say the latest development does not represent a major technological breakthrough and is unlikely to bring Iran within grasp of a weapon.
Meanwhile, six world powers, including five UN Security Council permanent members and Germany, are gathering in New York to discuss a UN draft resolution on Iran.
The resolution proposes imposing limited sanctions on Tehran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.
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