Iran is claiming significant new advances in its nuclear program, citing new uranium enrichment centrifuges and domestically made reactor fuel. According to state media reports, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has inserted the first Iranian-manufactured fuel rod into a Tehran reactor. The United States has downplayed the announcement, calling it “not big news.” As it made the announcement, Iran also said it had delivered a letter to the European Union calling for new talks on its nuclear activities.