Iran steps up its nuclear program...

It seems that everyday there is more and more determination from Iran for a confrontation.

Iran today set itself on a collision course with the West by announcing that it was escalating its contentious nuclear programme.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the republic's new hardline President, has reportedly given orders for a fresh batch of uranium to be brought to the plant in Isfahan for processing from next week.

Reports suggest that Iran has produced 6.8 tonnes of enriched uranium - theoretically enough for a single bomb - since resuming activity at the plant in August, in defiance of an agreement with Europe.

The latest move to heighten tensions with the West comes hours after The Times revealed that the President had ordered a purge of senior ambassadors. The envoys, who were appointed by Mr Ahmadinjed's two most recent - and more moderate - predecessors, are considered too liberal by the new administration.

At first it appeared that about 20 had been recalled to Tehran. It emerged today that as many as 40 heads of mission and other top diplomats have been sacked or reassigned, in the biggest shake-up since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. The majority were appointed during the decade of rapprochement that Mr Ahmadinejad has abruptly reversed.

President Ahmadinejad today cemented 24 hours of international brinkmanship by installing a former comrade in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards to the important position of Oil Minister.