Posted on 04/09/2007 5:02:50 PM PDT by blam
Iran 'just two years away from having material for nuclear bomb'
By Damian McElroy and David Blair
Last Updated: 12:47am BST 10/04/2007
The confrontation between Iran and the West over its nuclear programme deepened yesterday when Teheran announced that it had started enriching uranium on an "industrial scale".
The move is in breach of three United Nations resolutions and will raise fears that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's regime is seeking a nuclear weapon.
In a carefully orchestrated atmosphere of national celebration, Mr Ahmadinejad said: "I proudly announce that as of today Iran is among the countries which produce nuclear fuel on an industrial scale."
He was speaking at a gathering at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
Iran claims its intentions are solely aimed at generating electricity. But the technology it claims to have activated could be used to produce material essential for a nuclear bomb.
If uranium is enriched to three per cent purity, it can be used to fuel nuclear power stations. If it reaches 90 percent purity, then it becomes weapons-grade and can form the basis of a bomb.
Iran is believed to be using 3,000 centrifuges to enrich uranium. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that with this number of centrifuges it is about two years away from having enough weapons-grade uranium for one bomb.
The announcement came amid growing tension between Mr Ahmadinejad, who has threatened to "wipe Israel off the map," and the West. Only days after Iran released 15 British military personnel held for allegedly crossing into Iranian waters from Iraq, the announcement sent a signal of defiance to the world.
It was billed as "good nuclear news" and came as the climax of a day of festivities marking what Iran called its first "National Nuclear Day".
Across Iran phones buzzed with text messages announcing that its nuclear programme had "reached a new stage." In Teheran, militia members formed a chain outside its Atomic Energy Agency chanting "death to America - death to Britain".
Analysts say Iran has used such announcements of atomic progress in the past to strengthen its bargaining position with the West, but that such statements have often glossed over technical hitches they say have plagued its nuclear work.
Iranian news agencies reported yesterday that Iran sent a letter to the UN Security Council at the weekend criticising the council for its inaction on the case of five Iranian diplomats detained by US troops in Iraq.
In a further signal of Iran's defiance, Ali Larijani, the national security chief, said that if the international community continued to press Iran to stop its nuclear programme it could be forced to withdraw from the international non-proliferation treaty, which would mean inspectors being unable to monitor its nuclear progress.
UN inspectors visit Iran's nuclear plants regularly and are next expected in 20 days.
The Security Council has twice imposed sanctions aimed at forcing Teheran to open its facilities.
Iran claims it is producing only nuclear fuel but has failed to dispel suspicions that its hidden goal is weapons-grade material. The process Mr Ahmadinejad has inaugurated could be used for either civilian or military purposes.
Teheran has admitted having two 164-centrifuge "pilot cascades", lines of machines that spin very fast, separating uranium gas into dense concentrations of fissile material. It is thought that it aims to build 54,000.
Mark Fitzpatrick, a nuclear expert at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, said yesterday's announcement left doubts over Iran's ability to operate the machines continuously to maximise enrichment.
The White House said it was "concerned" at the announcement and Britain called on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment immediately.
Mr Ahmadinejad's defiance means next month's Security Council meeting will almost certainly increase pressure on Iran. There could still be a compromise, but ultimately America may lose patience and attack the nuclear facilities.
Or sooner, if they buy it enriched off the black market.
that’ll be hillary’s problem!
My prediction: The Iranians will test a nuke by the end of 2007 or by mid 2008. I also predict that the UN and European Union will send nasty notes and wring their hands but do essentially nothing. Israel if it can find a way to derail the nuke will try to do so, but distance and the Iranians dispersing their nuclear operations will make an attack by Israel very difficult to successfully pull off. George Bush is checkmated....the Dems in Congress will immediately impeach him if any military intervention by the US is attempted and that will tear the country apart. We better plan on a nuclear armed Iran by 2008.
Wait let me fix this for them.
Iran intentions are solely aimed at a nuclear bomb.
But the technology it claims to have activated could be used to produce material essential for generating electricity thereby providing ample cover to influence
weak minded liberals.
My question is "Will she consider it a problem?"
It’s good to know that on Iran National Nuclear Day that they are still talking to the international community. Inform Queen Nancy they are talking but if one talks incorrectly, they will be forced to make nuclear weapons.
Send Nancy and Tom Lantos now.
my understanding of the new left is that they believe
all nations should have nuclear parity.
I think we should just take care of the whole thing and deliver them a bunch, right now. ;)
Iran already has the stuff they are just begging us to attack them.Then they have a reason for using it and I’m sure if you check the labels made in Russia is printed on it.
Yup.
No problem. When Iran announces they have a bomb, we’ll all blame the ‘09 president, and the media will repeat it over and over, like when Korea announced their nuke program and everyone blamed Bush.
MSM strives for fairness and balance.
Which is why Hazel O’Leary declassified all sorts of nuke secrets during the Clinton Years.
slackers
You were way ahead on that graphic potlatch!
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