'Nuclear' Iran Marks Revolution Anniversary

Feb. 11, 2010— -- Demonstrators in Tehran marked the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution today with both pro-government and opposition supporters taking to the streets, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declaring Iran a "nuclear state."

A stand-off between the two camps was expected. "It looks like this is going to be a very bloody day," a source in Tehran said.

Iranian state television pictures showed thousands of people holding flags and pictures of the late Grand Ayatollah Khomeini at a rally being addressed by Ahmadinejad.

In his customary fiery rhetoric, Ahmadinejad said that his county was now a nuclear state and vowed not to give in to bullying by the West.

"I want to announce with a loud voice here that the first package of 20 percent fuel was produced and provided to the scientists," he said.

The announcement came days after Iran told the international community of its intention to increase its uranium enrichment to 20 percent from 3.5 percent.

The move brings Iran one step closer to having 95 percent enriched uranium, officially classified as weapons-grade. Iran denies having intentions of building a nuclear bomb, and says it wants the higher-grade material for use at the Tehran Research Reactor, which serves for cancer and other medical treatments.

The international community reacted by starting the process to impose new sanctions on Iran, targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guards and its substantial business interests.

"We are going to be looking at a variety of ways in which countries indicate to Iran that their approach is unacceptable," President Obama said Wednesday. "And the U.N. will be one aspect of that broader effort."

Ahmadinejad said today, "We told them the Iranian nation will never give in to bullying and illogical remarks."

Meanwhile, in other parts of the capital, police and pro-government militia have attacked opposition supporters, most notably Mehdi Karroubi's entourage.The opposition leader was on his way to join protesters in Sadeghieh Square, downtown Tehran, where many of his supporters had gathered when the Basij, pro-Ahmadinejad militia, mobbed him.

"They all attacked the car and started beating everyone," his son, Hossein Karroubi, said, adding that his father was attacked as soon as he got out of his car and his brother arrested.

"About 100 plainclothes thugs, as well as special police units on motorcycles, attacked the crowd around him with machetes, batons and paint pellets to mark them," Karroubi said.