Posted on 12/13/2009 3:22:54 PM PST by kristinn
Confidential intelligence documents obtained by The Times show that Iran is working on testing a key final component of a nuclear bomb.
The notes, from Iran’s most sensitive military nuclear project, describe a four-year plan to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion. Foreign intelligence agencies date them to early 2007, four years after Iran was thought to have suspended its weapons programme.
An Asian intelligence source last week confirmed to The Times that his country also believed that weapons work was being carried out as recently as 2007 — specifically, work on a neutron initiator.
The technical document describes the use of a neutron source, uranium deuteride, which independent experts confirm has no possible civilian or military use other than in a nuclear weapon. Uranium deuteride is the material used in Pakistan’s bomb, from where Iran obtained its blueprint.
SNIP
Mark Fitzpatrick, senior fellow for non-proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, said: “The most shattering conclusion is that, if this was an effort that began in 2007, it could be a casus belli. If Iran is working on weapons, it means there is no diplomatic solution.”
The Times had the documents, which were originally written in Farsi, translated into English and had the translation separately verified by two Farsi speakers.
SNIP
The documents detail a plan for tests to determine whether the device works — without detonating an explosion leaving traces of uranium detectable by the outside world. If such traces were found, they would be taken as irreversible evidence of Iran’s intention to become a nuclear-armed power.
SNIP
Mr Fitzpatrick said: “Is this the smoking gun? That’s the question people should be asking. It looks like the smoking gun. This is smoking uranium.”
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Yes... The US and the UN are just shocked I tell ya...geez...
lulz
The Smoking Gun for me is the fact that Iran has oil coming out of their collective wazoo.
hmmmm......Asian intelligence source.....
Does Asia begin at the Red Sea or the Persian Gulf?
Mark Fitzpatrick, senior fellow for non-proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, said: “The most shattering conclusion is that, if this was an effort that began in 2007, it could be a casus belli. If Iran is working on weapons, it means there is no diplomatic solution.”
Kudos to Mark for something we’ve known all along.
Welcome to reality mark, Islamic fanatics
from the 12th century with a propensity for self flagellation and religious suicide, now have the means to exterminate the infidel.
Not surprising. I am sure they got the initial design from NK or Pakistan.
***The Smoking Gun for me is the fact that Iran has oil coming out of their collective wazoo.***
Maybe they are afraid to release any CO2 from oil fired power plants. ;-D
But they told us it was just going to be used for generating energy. Obama should look at them VERY sternly for this.
Hilarious! Tom Lehrer is a treasure, no matter what your politics! LOL
And yet nothing is going to happen. Neither the US or Israel is going to do anything about this program until Iran flips a nuke at someone.
L!O!L!
ping
Hey Mark, does "Senior Fellow" mean you're a person just catching on to information which has been obvious for YEARS? Sh**, all you had to do was look at FR any day of the week... we've known there was no "diplomatic solution" for many years.
TANKS,,,If true this could very well cause Israel to pull the trigger,,,
FOX now : 2007 documents/info,,,
This is interesting to me,,,
Why Now ?,,,
Waning Moon tonite,,,
Neither Jordan or the Saudi want Iran lobbin’ nukes over
their Heads !,,,
They mite even buy the IAF some gas...;0)
Iranian students accuse government of
faking images of protesters burning photos of Khomeini
Canadian Press/ AP
Posted on 12/13/2009 5:00:47 PM PST by nuconvert
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2406851/posts
Obama wil not respond.
Not even if D.C. or NY city is annilated.
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