Iran gets closer...

Iran keeps snubbing its nose at the western world.

Defying the world, Iran revealed Friday it has begun converting a second batch of uranium into gas, a step that brings it closer to producing the enriched uranium used in either nuclear reactors or bombs.

The European Union, with US support, has been calling on Iran to halt conversion since August, when Britain, France and Germany broke off negotiations with the country after it announced it had re-started converting uranium "yellowcake" into gas, a process necessary for actual enrichment.

Next Thursday, the UN nuclear watchdog is to consider whether to refer Iran to the Security Council for possible sanctions. Member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency are expected to review Iran's conduct since September, when the body passed a resolution that called on the country to halt conversion and placed it one step from referral to the Security Council.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, was asked by state TV whether the country had started converting into gas a second batch of uranium, as it had planned to do at its Isfahan nuclear facility.

"This job is done and the plant is continuing its activity," Larijani said in an interview recorded late Thursday and broadcast Friday. He added Iran had informed the IAEA of the development.

Larijani also said Iran had refused IAEA inspectors access to a military site at Lavisan, on the northeastern outskirts of Tehran, during their visit in late October.