by Rena Silverman

"Please start 20 percent enrichment, though we are still in talks about a fuel exchange." That's what Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on live state-run television Sunday, when he ordered the production of higher-enriched uranium, ignoring ongoing international calls for stricter sanctions.

Seeking a level of enrichment that significantly exceeds that of its regular nuclear fuel, Ahmadinejad's instructions prompted the United States to rapidly respond by saying it would seek renewed sanctions and the support of the United Nations.

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, was quoted by a state-run Press TV broadcaster saying that scientists began processing uranium to a purity level of 20 percent to provide fuel for a research reactor at a nuclear facility south of Tehran.

Mr. Salehi also said, “The beginning of the enrichment is not tantamount to the end of interaction and negotiations” reinforcing United States suspicions that Iran wishes pressure the West into renegotiating a proposal to barter Iran’s uranium for imported fuel rods.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is still ready to continue cooperation if the negotiation parties act wisely and end wasting time," he said, referring to the United fuel exchange negotiation.

According to Iranian state media, the enrichment began on Tuesday in the presence of inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

At the agency's headquarters in Vienna, a representative confirmed inspectors were present, but was unable to confirm claims to be enriching uranium beyond current levels.

Iran says it seeks a level of purity lower than the 90-percent level required for weapons, but the West remains concerned that even enrichment to 20 percent would enact Iran to produce greater weapon-eligible uranium, and shortly. However, Iran's enrichment-level capacities still remain unclear.