Iran underground nuclear enrichment plant 'nearly ready'
Rush to complete underground site despite sanctions seen as a bid to win more leverage
Intelligence officials from several countries say Iran in recent weeks has virtually completed an underground nuclear enrichment plant.
It is racing ahead despite international pressure and heavy economic sanctions in what experts say may be an effort to give it leverage in any negotiations with the US and its allies.
The installation of the last of nearly 3,000 centrifuges at a site called Fordo, deep under a mountain inside a military base near the holy city of Qom, puts Iran closer to being able to build a nuclear weapon, or come up to the edge, if its leaders ultimately decide to proceed.
The US, Israel and the United Nations have vowed to stop that happening, imposing increasingly tough sanctions on the country and using cyberwarfare to slow its progress in obtaining a weapon.
Talks this year between Iran and the so-called P5-plus-1 - the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany - have made little progress.
Iran's progress at Fordo was disclosed by officials familiar with the findings of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency who have been to the site recently as part of their regular visits. The officials included some from European governments that have opposed taking military action to slow the Iranian programme, arguing that sanctions - with a mix of covert action - are far preferable.
