President Ahmadinejad ignored UN sanctions Iran has ignored international sanctions against its nuclear programme by opening two uranium mines in Saghand. The mines, capable of producing 66 tons of yellowcake annually, were opened to coincide with Iran’s National Nuclear Energy Day.
Yellowcake is the impure state of uranium oxide used in nuclear enrichment facilities.
The UN has repeatedly tried to persuade Iran to cease their nuclear programme. Iran has said that the enrichment is aimed at building a peaceful energy programme, and not for the building of weapons.