Posted on 02/10/2006 5:06:07 PM PST by blam
Iran plant 'has restarted its nuclear bomb-making equipment'
By Con Coughlin, Defence and Security Editor, in Washington
(Filed: 11/02/2006)
Iran's controversial Natanz uranium processing plant has successfully restarted the sophisticated equipment that could enable it to produce material for nuclear warheads, according to reports received by Western intelligence.
An aerial view of the Natanz plant
In the past few days Iranian nuclear scientists have reportedly restarted four of the centrifuges required to produce weapons-grade uranium, and have begun feeding them with uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas, a key component in the production of nuclear bombs.
This crucial development follows Iran's decision to withdraw its co-operation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna after the body decided last week to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council.
Iranian officials have moved quickly to obstruct the work of the UN nuclear inspectors still working in the country's nuclear facilities.
Intelligence officials say restrictions have been imposed on the inspectors' movements between the various facilities at Natanz.
They have been specifically excluded from those areas where the Iranians have announced they would resume uranium enrichment, and have ordered the UN inspectors to report to officials running the plant on a daily basis. Security cameras installed by IAEA officials to monitor key facilities have been disabled.
Having effectively excluded the UN inspection teams from the most sensitive sites, Iranian nuclear scientists have removed the seals from the P-2 centrifuges that Iran acquired from Pakistan through the secret nuclear network operated by Dr A Q Khan, the "father" of Pakistan's nuclear bomb.
They have also begun installing tanks in underground bunkers that are designed for industrial enrichment.
In previous submissions to the UN inspectors, the Iranians insisted they had acquired the P-2 centrifuges merely for research purposes, They have continued to insist that their nuclear programme is solely aimed at developing alternative energy sources.
However, a senior Western intelligence official said: "Iran's recent activity is a clear escalation of its attempts to enrich uranium to weapons grade. With the UN inspectors out of the way they are basically free to do as they please."
Tick, tock, tick, tock. . . . . . .
Nice pic. Things may get real interesting soon. We aren't too far away from all out war against the muslims.
And I say, The sooner, the better!
We aren't too far away from all out war against the muslims.
that will go down in history as the Great 3 Day War, once you hit and take out a few Kings and Princes, imams and clerics... they will all surrender
maybe that is what the majority of them want, do for them what they don't have the balls to do
I agree, a perfect time to use some small nukes. Keep our guys alive and send them a message they will never forget.
Why send a single plane when we some really cool ICBMs with multi warheads !
Why are we sitting on our asses?
This would be a nice test for your bomb, Chirac.
Time to make the donuts.
Is there a problem with date of this article or has my JD caught up to me?
Danke!
That's it.
Talk is useless.
Bomb the crap out of these facilities soon or say goodbye to New York City and the American way of life.
They better get way way out of the way. Unless some goodguy puts a bullet in Ahmadinejad's head, Natanz will be ground zero by the middle of April!
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