[Pollster1]

Look at it in Google Earth. It’s probably the most vulnerable target in Iran - it’s right on the coast. An Israeli sub could offload Special ops through a torpedo tube.

The fuel rods change significantly the first time the reactor goes critical, not in a loss of particular uranium isotopes, but in the addition of short- and medium-lived reaction byproducts. It's not so much the loading of the fuel as the next step, which might be rushed precisely to create an environmental propaganda victory, that poses a real danger that is different from that due to stored fuel rods.

[agere_contra]

There is indeed a world of difference between an unprocessed and a processed fuel rod.

Perhaps the IAF will use that fact against Bushehr. Smash it up just enough that its own radioactivity will render key buildings useless, without creating an enormous, photogenic cloud.

[Karliner]

Worked with building a coolant plant( with multiple engineers)for stored rods; don't remember much about online rods so you obviously havyou're way more versed in this than I once was. If not too problematic can you elaborate on this?

The fuel rods change significantly the first time the reactor goes critical, not in a loss of particular uranium isotopes, but in the addition of short- and medium-lived reaction byproducts.

What it sounds like you're saying is there's a larger window depending on certain variables for the rods to go fully hot?