Morning Brief: Iran vows to build 10 new enrichment sites

Top story: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dramatically escalated the international confrontation over his country's nuclear program on Sunday by announcing plans to construct 10 new nuclear enrichment plants. The Iranian parliament voted to begin construction of five new plants within the next two months. The annoucement came two days after Iran was censured by the International Atomic Energy Agency for refusing to stop uranium enrichment. 

"We are ready to be friendly and kind toward the whole world, but at the same time we won't allow the smallest violation of the rights of the Iranian nation," Ahmadinejad said. 

The IAEA's decision to censure Iran provoked widespread anger in the country's leadership, including members of the opposition.  Former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said the agency's decision had been made "out of sheer spite."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the Iranian government's plans to build new centrifuges was, if true, "another example of Iran choosing to isolate itself.”

Nonetheless, some experts believe Ahmadinejad's announcement is more political posturing than anything else, questioning whether the country has the infrastructure of the uranium supply for such an ambitious building project. 

Afghanistan: Administration officials say President Obama's speech on Tuesday will include not only a plan for a troop escalation in Afghanistan, but a time frame for winding down the war as well.