Report: Iran builds, tests first nuclear rod By Shirzad Bozorgmehr, CNN January 1, 2012 -- Updated 0951 GMT (1751 HKT) Iran built its first nuclear fuel rod containing natural uranium, news agency says The rod is placed in the core of the Tehran research reactor, according to FARS Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Iran succeeded in building and testing the country's first nuclear fuel rod, the semiofficial news agency FARS said Sunday. The rod, containing natural uranium, was successfully tested and is being "radiated in the core of the Tehran research nuclear reactor," the news agency said, citing Iran's atomic energy agency website. Natural uranium is used to fuel reactors.