Iran,  Iran Nuclear Watch

IAEA: Iran Running 5,000 Uranium Enrichment Centrifuges – Making It Hard for U.N. Inspectors

iran missile

Graphic showing the potential range of the Iran’s Shahab-3 which has a similar range of 2,000 kilometres (1,350 miles) to the Sejil-2 missile. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the Islamic republic has test-fired a new medium-range missile and insisted that there will be no climbdown over Iran’s nuclear programme

Why worry?

It is all for peaceful electricity generation, right?

Iran has expanded the number of centrifuges enriching uranium to almost 5,000 and this has made it harder for U.N. inspectors to keep track of the disputed nuclear program, according to an IAEA report seen by Reuters.

Friday’s restricted International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report also said Iran had increased its rate of production of low-enriched uranium (LEU) material, boosting its stockpile by 500 kg to 1,339 kg in the past six months.

Iran’s improved efficiency in turning out potential nuclear fuel was sure to fan Western fears of the Islamic Republic nearing the ability make nuclear bombs, if it chose to do so.

David Albright of the Institute for Science and International Security, a think tank that tracks proliferation issues globally, said Iran now had accumulated enough LEU to convert into high-enriched uranium sufficient for one atom bomb.

But this would require reconfiguring Iran’s centrifuge network, miniaturizing HEU to fit on a warhead – technical steps that could take 1-2 years or more — and would not escape notice of UN inspectors unless done at an undeclared location.

There are no indications of any such secret site.

Iran says it is developing a uranium enrichment industry solely as fuel for electricity generation.

Coming soon – Iran kicks out all of the nuclear inspectors and declares nuclear breakout capability.


Technorati Tags: ,

One Comment

  • Maria

    What is going on here? N. Korea and Iran are heading toward nuclear powers. Should that be allowed of US administration?