Report Says Iran Has Data to Make a Nuclear Bomb

New York Times ^ | October 3, 2009 | WILLIAM J. BROAD and DAVID E. SANGER

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Actually its the uranium gun weapon thats easy.
For technologically advanced states the gun-type method is now essentially obsolete, for reasons of efficiency and safety (discussed above). The gun type method was largely abandoned by the United States as soon as the implosion technique was perfected, though it was retained in the specialised role of nuclear artillery for a time.

[DBrow]

That’s not what I said. I said that knowing the basic science is not enough.

We solved those questions from basic principles, so the next team knew there was a solution, something we did not know.

[djf]

IIRC, the first nuclear device was basically like a doughnut.
What made it go critical was a piece that was shoved into the center of the doughnut, and it reached critical mass.

This is a very, very simple design and does not require alot of high-tech switches, etc. If you had the uranium, a lathe, and a few other things, you could make one in your garage.