Aa
U.N. Report Says Iran Has Fuel for 2 Nuclear Weapons
U.N. Report Says Iran Has Fuel for 2 Nuclear Weapons
By DAVID E. SANGER and WILLIAM J. BROAD
Published: May 31, 2010
WASHINGTON — In their last report before the United Nations Security Council votes on sanctions against Iran, international nuclear inspectors declared on Monday that Iran has now produced a stockpile of nuclear fuel that experts say would be enough, with further enrichment, to make two nuclear weapons.
The report, by the International Atomic Energy Agency, a branch of the United Nations, appears likely to bolster the Obama administration’s case for a fourth round of economic sanctions against Iran and further diminish its interest in a deal, recently revived by Turkey and Brazil, in which Iran would send a portion of its nuclear stockpile out of the country.
When Iran tentatively agreed eight months ago to ship some of its nuclear material out of the country, the White House said the deal would temporarily deprive Iran of enough fuel to make even a single weapon.
But Iran delayed for months, and the figures contained in the inspectors’ report on Monday indicated that even if Iran now shipped the agreed-upon amount of nuclear material out of the country, it would retain enough for a single weapon, undercutting the American rationale for the deal.
The toughly worded report says that Iran has expanded work at one of its nuclear sites. It also describes, step-by-step, how inspectors have been denied access to a series of facilities, and how Iran has refused to answer inspectors’ questions on a variety of activities, including what the agency called the “possible existence” of “activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile.”
A spokesman for the White House, Michael Hammer, said in a statement on Monday that the report “clearly shows Iran’s continued failure to comply with its international obligations and its sustained lack of cooperation with the IAEA.” He said the report “underscores that Iran has refused to take any of the steps required of it” by the security council or the I.A.E.A.’s board of governors, “which are necessary to enable constructive negotiations on the future of its nuclear program.”
Iran, which insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, has said it has conducted no work on weapons, and argues the evidence of work on warheads is forged.
Iran’s nuclear progress had been expected to be a central subject at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday at the White House between Mr. Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Mr. Netanyahu canceled the visit after a deadly raid by Israeli commandos on ships carrying supplies to Gaza.
But the report left hanging the question of whether Israel would ratchet up the pressure on Washington and its allies to show that they can deal with the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran diplomatically. Israeli officials have hinted, but never explicitly threatened, that they would take military action if diplomacy fails and Iran is close to weapons capability.
Administration officials have argued that the combination of the sanctions they expect to come out of the Security Council, along with other sanctions imposed by the United States and its European allies, may change Iran’s calculus. But many inside and outside the administration are highly skeptical.
It has been four years since the Security Council first demanded that Iran cease all enrichment of uranium, citing its efforts to hide its activities and deceive inspectors. The country has openly defied those resolutions, telling inspectors those demands — along with calls to allow inspectors to visit a series of facilities that could be useful in energy or weapons production — had been “issued illegally and have no legal basis.”
The inspectors reported Monday that Iran now has now produced over 5,300 pounds of low-enriched uranium, all of which would have to undergo further enrichment before it could be converted to bomb fuel.
The inspectors reported that Iran had expanded work at its sprawling Natanz site in the desert, where it is raising the level of uranium enrichment up to 20 percent – the level needed for the Tehran Research Reactor, which produces medical isotopes for cancer patients. But it is unclear why Iran is making that investment if it plans to obtain the fuel for the reactor from abroad, as it would under its new agreement with Turkey and Brazil.
Until recently, all of Iran’s uranium had been enriched to only 4 percent, the level needed to run nuclear power reactors. While increasing that to 20 percent purity does not allow Iran to build a weapon, it gets the country closer to that goal. The inspectors reported that Iran had installed a second group of centrifuges – machines that spin incredibly fast to enrich, or purify, uranium for use in bombs or reactors – which could speed its production of the 20 percent fuel.
The inspectors also noted that the agency had finally succeeded in setting up a good monitoring system for the 20-percent work after a rocky start in February, when Iran began raising the enrichment levels. “A new safeguards approach,” the report said, “is now being implemented.”
But the report called the equipment upgrades and the continuing enrichment “contrary to the relevant resolutions of the I.A.E.A.’s Board of Governors and the Security Council.” Both have called on Iran to cease its uranium enrichment because of outstanding questions about Tehran’s intentions. The sanctions, if passed, are intended to compel Iran to comply with that demand by the Security Council.
Last fall, President Obama, along with the leaders of Britain and France, denounced Iran for secretly building a second enrichment plant near the holy city of Qum, without alerting inspectors until just before those three countries announced they had discovered the facility. But curiously, the report suggested that now, with its existence revealed, Iran may be losing interest in it. The report said that Iran had installed no centrifuges in the half-built enrichment facility, which is located inside a mountain near a military base.
Iran has sought to locate many of its nuclear facilities in underground sites so as to lessen their vulnerability to aerial attack. In the new report, the inspectors said that the Iranians disclosed that a new analytical laboratory slated for construction amid a warren of tunnels at Isfahan “would have the same functions as the existing” unprotected laboratory there.
The report quoted an Iranian letter as saying the second, underground laboratory was needed “to meet security measures.”
By DAVID E. SANGER and WILLIAM J. BROAD
Published: May 31, 2010
WASHINGTON — In their last report before the United Nations Security Council votes on sanctions against Iran, international nuclear inspectors declared on Monday that Iran has now produced a stockpile of nuclear fuel that experts say would be enough, with further enrichment, to make two nuclear weapons.
The report, by the International Atomic Energy Agency, a branch of the United Nations, appears likely to bolster the Obama administration’s case for a fourth round of economic sanctions against Iran and further diminish its interest in a deal, recently revived by Turkey and Brazil, in which Iran would send a portion of its nuclear stockpile out of the country.
When Iran tentatively agreed eight months ago to ship some of its nuclear material out of the country, the White House said the deal would temporarily deprive Iran of enough fuel to make even a single weapon.
But Iran delayed for months, and the figures contained in the inspectors’ report on Monday indicated that even if Iran now shipped the agreed-upon amount of nuclear material out of the country, it would retain enough for a single weapon, undercutting the American rationale for the deal.
The toughly worded report says that Iran has expanded work at one of its nuclear sites. It also describes, step-by-step, how inspectors have been denied access to a series of facilities, and how Iran has refused to answer inspectors’ questions on a variety of activities, including what the agency called the “possible existence” of “activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile.”
A spokesman for the White House, Michael Hammer, said in a statement on Monday that the report “clearly shows Iran’s continued failure to comply with its international obligations and its sustained lack of cooperation with the IAEA.” He said the report “underscores that Iran has refused to take any of the steps required of it” by the security council or the I.A.E.A.’s board of governors, “which are necessary to enable constructive negotiations on the future of its nuclear program.”
Iran, which insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, has said it has conducted no work on weapons, and argues the evidence of work on warheads is forged.
Iran’s nuclear progress had been expected to be a central subject at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday at the White House between Mr. Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Mr. Netanyahu canceled the visit after a deadly raid by Israeli commandos on ships carrying supplies to Gaza.
But the report left hanging the question of whether Israel would ratchet up the pressure on Washington and its allies to show that they can deal with the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran diplomatically. Israeli officials have hinted, but never explicitly threatened, that they would take military action if diplomacy fails and Iran is close to weapons capability.
Administration officials have argued that the combination of the sanctions they expect to come out of the Security Council, along with other sanctions imposed by the United States and its European allies, may change Iran’s calculus. But many inside and outside the administration are highly skeptical.
It has been four years since the Security Council first demanded that Iran cease all enrichment of uranium, citing its efforts to hide its activities and deceive inspectors. The country has openly defied those resolutions, telling inspectors those demands — along with calls to allow inspectors to visit a series of facilities that could be useful in energy or weapons production — had been “issued illegally and have no legal basis.”
The inspectors reported Monday that Iran now has now produced over 5,300 pounds of low-enriched uranium, all of which would have to undergo further enrichment before it could be converted to bomb fuel.
The inspectors reported that Iran had expanded work at its sprawling Natanz site in the desert, where it is raising the level of uranium enrichment up to 20 percent – the level needed for the Tehran Research Reactor, which produces medical isotopes for cancer patients. But it is unclear why Iran is making that investment if it plans to obtain the fuel for the reactor from abroad, as it would under its new agreement with Turkey and Brazil.
Until recently, all of Iran’s uranium had been enriched to only 4 percent, the level needed to run nuclear power reactors. While increasing that to 20 percent purity does not allow Iran to build a weapon, it gets the country closer to that goal. The inspectors reported that Iran had installed a second group of centrifuges – machines that spin incredibly fast to enrich, or purify, uranium for use in bombs or reactors – which could speed its production of the 20 percent fuel.
The inspectors also noted that the agency had finally succeeded in setting up a good monitoring system for the 20-percent work after a rocky start in February, when Iran began raising the enrichment levels. “A new safeguards approach,” the report said, “is now being implemented.”
But the report called the equipment upgrades and the continuing enrichment “contrary to the relevant resolutions of the I.A.E.A.’s Board of Governors and the Security Council.” Both have called on Iran to cease its uranium enrichment because of outstanding questions about Tehran’s intentions. The sanctions, if passed, are intended to compel Iran to comply with that demand by the Security Council.
Last fall, President Obama, along with the leaders of Britain and France, denounced Iran for secretly building a second enrichment plant near the holy city of Qum, without alerting inspectors until just before those three countries announced they had discovered the facility. But curiously, the report suggested that now, with its existence revealed, Iran may be losing interest in it. The report said that Iran had installed no centrifuges in the half-built enrichment facility, which is located inside a mountain near a military base.
Iran has sought to locate many of its nuclear facilities in underground sites so as to lessen their vulnerability to aerial attack. In the new report, the inspectors said that the Iranians disclosed that a new analytical laboratory slated for construction amid a warren of tunnels at Isfahan “would have the same functions as the existing” unprotected laboratory there.
The report quoted an Iranian letter as saying the second, underground laboratory was needed “to meet security measures.”
Yes, we sure are and then this latest with Israel. Not looking good at all. I will post the Israel article under a different thread
He may have to now since this latest incident, it seems as if Israel had a right to board the vessel and the Navy Seals wre attacked , later this week 2 more boats are set to run the gauntlet ..we are living in dangerous times .....
I agree that this is a delicate situation. But I simply do not see Israel siting by quietly while our favorite holocaust denier aims nukes at them. Nor should they. If he has nukes armed and ready to go, it could already be too late.
And I agree it N Korea, China and probably Russia are involved up their teeth. The problem is in times past they would have been afraid of us. Not so anymore. I don't want world war 3. It frightens me as much as anything does. But what frightens me more, is that crazed man giving them to terrorists to use here. In our own land. Our children.
Placating dictators doesn't work. ie Hitler and Chamberlain, the great appeaser. You cannot just appease them You must be more ruthless than they are. They have no care of how of their own people die. If Iran goes under a naval blockade, it will be seen as a sign of war. I truly believe the only solution is a commando raid. And nobody is better at it than Israel. China and Russia will bluster and blow but that's about it. We will have to back Israel up. I just don't think Obama will. And more's the pity.
And I agree it N Korea, China and probably Russia are involved up their teeth. The problem is in times past they would have been afraid of us. Not so anymore. I don't want world war 3. It frightens me as much as anything does. But what frightens me more, is that crazed man giving them to terrorists to use here. In our own land. Our children.
Placating dictators doesn't work. ie Hitler and Chamberlain, the great appeaser. You cannot just appease them You must be more ruthless than they are. They have no care of how of their own people die. If Iran goes under a naval blockade, it will be seen as a sign of war. I truly believe the only solution is a commando raid. And nobody is better at it than Israel. China and Russia will bluster and blow but that's about it. We will have to back Israel up. I just don't think Obama will. And more's the pity.
I also agree that the mear thought of Iran having nuclear capabilities terrifies me. I think it does most of the world. However, I do think there is not much Obama can do right at the moment without starting another war. It's not that what is happening in Iran doesn't warrent it, but so many of the troops are currently tied up in Iraq and Afganistan. The problem with starting up with Iran is that that dictator is crazy and would think nothing of blasting everyone in sight or reach. I think Obama and the rest of the world need to move slowly and carefully with this situation. I really don't think sanctions will do the trick, because he doesn't give a dang about his people. And as a dictator, I think we all know he certainly won't suffer. No, I do think some sort of military action will become necessary eventually, but Obama needs to make sure the rest of the G8, and preferably the G20 is on board. Move to fast and it will be a worse situation then Iraq and Afganistan combined. I don't believe the man is afraid of them, or spineless, I think he is probably moving with caution.
Sara, glad to hear kitty is alive and well, it must have worked just fine! ROFL.
I understand how you feel, and so happens I would like to see them disarmed as well. But it is not as simple as all that. I really could not get into it here, but if you go to looking into it you will find that Iran has allies much bigger then them. We literally would be causing all these allies to get involved on both sides and a world war could break out. I do think Israel will solve the problem in the end, but even then, we are their ally and would be involved either way it went. I think prez is doing what he can at the time, even tho to us it doesnt appear to be much. Ya just gotta look at the whole picture and when ya do, it makes sense. The UN is the one that needs to step it up in my opinion.
I have a kitty and I call her Sheba (****** sheba) most of the time! She is forever picking on Jada, my shitzu, should I give her a restraint medal? LOL I like your cats name!
I understand how you feel, and so happens I would like to see them disarmed as well. But it is not as simple as all that. I really could not get into it here, but if you go to looking into it you will find that Iran has allies much bigger then them. We literally would be causing all these allies to get involved on both sides and a world war could break out. I do think Israel will solve the problem in the end, but even then, we are their ally and would be involved either way it went. I think prez is doing what he can at the time, even tho to us it doesnt appear to be much. Ya just gotta look at the whole picture and when ya do, it makes sense. The UN is the one that needs to step it up in my opinion.
I have a kitty and I call her Sheba (****** sheba) most of the time! She is forever picking on Jada, my shitzu, should I give her a restraint medal? LOL I like your cats name!
The only point I'm trying to make is this. In this big world of ours, there is no room for crazed dictators with nuclear weapons. Someone must be there to intimidate them. The world has hoisted that duty of the USA. And when the president is not strong on national defense or on the military, the crazed dictators are emboldened. They know they can do what they want and no one will do anything except say "Naughty, Naughty". This doesn't exactly leave them shaking in their boots.
Look at Libya. Prior to Reagan ordering an air strike on the dictator there, he was a real threat. He enabled terrorists around the world. Now he's being a good little dictator. Not out of the goodness of his heart, but out of fear of the USA.
I truly fear that unless Iran is disarmed, this will not end well. Iran must be disarmed, by force if necessary or the dissident groups in Iran must be supported. Allow them the arms and support to overthrow him. I do not look to Obama to do anything in defense of us or the rest of the world from that man. I wish I didn't feel that way but I do.
Sara
PS I just my gave my cranky old cat Mousey Tongue, a courageous restraint medal. He didn't kill the new kitten even though she was bugging the tar out of him!!!
Look at Libya. Prior to Reagan ordering an air strike on the dictator there, he was a real threat. He enabled terrorists around the world. Now he's being a good little dictator. Not out of the goodness of his heart, but out of fear of the USA.
I truly fear that unless Iran is disarmed, this will not end well. Iran must be disarmed, by force if necessary or the dissident groups in Iran must be supported. Allow them the arms and support to overthrow him. I do not look to Obama to do anything in defense of us or the rest of the world from that man. I wish I didn't feel that way but I do.
Sara
PS I just my gave my cranky old cat Mousey Tongue, a courageous restraint medal. He didn't kill the new kitten even though she was bugging the tar out of him!!!
So what is it you would have had him do? Start a world war?
Yup I agree Sarajmt he certainly wont support Israel and yes it is his fault he could have come down on Iran a while back and hasnt bothered ..
What???? Please explain.
Yeah, Its all Obamas Fault! How dare he! This has been going on since the beginning of time and will continue till the end. Actually, it may hurry it along a bit I think.
I'll be surprised if Israel doesn't try to take it out. They've successfully done it before. And Obama doesn't have the backbone to do anything about or support Israel for that matter. In any event, it's unacceptable to a country like Iran to have nuclear capability.
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
