Iran moves forward....

It seems every week they announce progress on their nuclear plans...and all the west does is moan and complain.

Iran started a new round of converting uranium ore into the feedstock gas for making enriched uranium, a move likely to complicate diplomacy over Iran's disputed nuclear program, diplomats said.

UN inspectors "are reporting that the first drums of new uranium ore were fed into the process at the uranium conversion facility in Isfahan this morning," a diplomat who asked not to be identified told AFP.

Enriched uranium can be used as fuel for a civilian nuclear reactor or as atom bomb material.

The conversion into the precursor gas is a second round after Iran already processed 37 tonnes of ore.

Diplomats said the amount of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas the Iranians would have after processing what is likely to be 50 tonnes this time would be enough to make highly enriched uranium for up to 10 atomic bombs.

A senior European diplomat told AFP: "It's not good news, no, not at all."