Iran holds enough uranium for bomb

[jesuitsdidit]

Iran has built up a stockpile of enough enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb, United Nations officials acknowledged on Thursday.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f367aada-fec8-11dd-b19a-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1

Iran holds enough uranium for bomb

By Daniel Dombey in Washington

Published: February 19 2009

Iran has built up a stockpile of enough enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb, United Nations officials acknowledged on Thursday.

In a development that comes as the Obama administration is drawing up its policy on negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear programme, UN officials said Iran had produced more nuclear material than previously thought.

They said Iran had accumulated more than one tonne of low enriched uranium hexafluoride at a facility in Natanz.

If such a quantity were further enriched it could produce more than 20kg of fissile material – enough for a bomb.

“It appears that Iran has walked right up to the threshold of having enough low enriched uranium to provide enough raw material for a single bomb,” said Peter Zimmerman, a former chief scientist of the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

The new figures come in a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, released on Thursday. This revealed that Iran’s production of low enriched uranium had previously been underestimated.

When the agency carried out an annual stocktaking of Natanz in mid-November Iran had produced 839kg of low enriched uranium hexafluoride – more than 200kg more than previously thought. Tehran produced an additional 171kg by the end of January.

“It’s sure certain that if they didn’t have it [enough] when the IAEA took these measurements, they will have it in a matter of weeks,” Mr Zimmerman said.

Iran’s success in reaching such a “breakout capacity” – a stage that would allow it to produce enough fissile material for a bomb in a matter of months – crosses a “red line” that for years Israel has said it would not accept.

UN officials emphasise that to produce fissile material Iran would have to reconfigure its Natanz plant to produce high enriched uranium rather than low enriched uranium – a highly visible step that would take months – or to shift its stockpile to a clandestine site.

No such sites have been proved to exist, although for decades Iran concealed evidence of its nuclear programme.

A senior UN official added that countries usually waited until they had an enriched uranium stockpile sufficient for several bombs before proceeding to develop fissile material. He conceded that Iran now had enough enriched uranium for one bomb.

“Do they have enough low enriched uranium to produce a significant quantity [enough high enriched uranium for a bomb]?” he said. “In theory this is possible, [although] with the present configuration at Natanz it isn’t.”

David Albright, the head of the Institute for Science and International Security, said: “If Iran did decide to build nuclear weapons, it’s entering an era in which it could do so quickly.”

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

[knightbk]

They should be attacked now with nuclear tipped bunker buster bombs to prevent them from gaining only what Western Nations are allowed to have. Then freedom for the west to have its way with Iran will reign supreme for years to come.

[snapperhead]

Obviously our fair Gov is continuing its natural course of continued warfare. I suspect we will be attacking Iran within a few years and have no doubt we have been conducting black ops there for sometime now. I still have to giggle when I read "official reports" that describe "secret weapons of mass desruction"....how secret are they? Did a spy weigh the stuff or did they use esp. I still have stuff hid in my closet that my girlfriend can't find, but we know what Iran is hiding. How can a reasonable person even belive these sort of press releases?
No, bunker bombs won't do....lets kill 100,000 citizens, remove the dictator, and rearm opposing religious sects, watch them slaughter the remaining men, woman, and children, and then let our young men periodically conduct urban warfare so they get the training they need to come home and institute marshal law. Oh, ya--we need to make sure to take plenty of pictures of bombs hitting target so our children can get all excited about what they get to do when they grow up. What a joke!!!:mad:

[beldazar]

They should be attacked now with nuclear tipped bunker buster bombs to prevent them from gaining only what Western Nations are allowed to have. Then freedom for the west to have its way with Iran will reign supreme for years to come.

WTF??? You are joking right? :confused:

[eternal_spirit]

Jihad or self defence

[alternative_answer]

Fear, fear and a dose of more fear, keep focusing on the problem get more problem.

[duckandcover]

more UN propagander for a pre emptive strike. Iran obviously doesnt count when it comes to equal rights! :rolleyes: im ashamed to be part of this western hypocritical society :o

[fnulnu]

WTF??? You are joking right? :confused:

lol read some of knightbk's other posts.He's a wag.Fun to have around imo :)

[beldazar]

lol read some of knightbk's other posts.He's a wag.Fun to have around imo :)

Oh ok, cheers for that. :)

[dooby]

Iraq has weapons of mass destruction

Every day Saddam remains in power with chemical weapons, biological weapons, and the development of nuclear weapons is a day of danger for the United States.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-CT, September 4, 2002


Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.
Dick Cheney August 26, 2002


Both from http://www.counterpunch.org/wmd05292003.html

Iran has weapons of mass destruction
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-fg-usiran12-2009feb12,0,3478184.story
http://www.cfr.org/publication/16811/

I smell propaganda, again. Now go and panic.

[dreamweaver]

I still have stuff hid in my closet that my girlfriend can't find,
Do tell! :D

[jiffy]

I can't see the US attacking Iran under Brosinki/Obama, I think the eyes will turn away from the middle east and back towards Russia and China.
Clintons last speech showed a distinct softening towards Iran. You will always have some NEO-Con drivel coming out of the US, but the new administration has a very different agenda IMHO

The US/UK needs to seal it's imperialism for the next century or two. The best way of doing this is to stop the rise of what (they see) as there greatest threat.

Obviously we can't rule out Israel, as there are some fanatical elements in there, but I don't think the US will publicly back them if they do.

[papiere bitte]

Obviously we can't rule out Israel, as there are some fanatical elements in there, but I don't think the US will publicly back them if they do.

That'd be a first wouldn't it?

I think Israel's influence over the United States, would demand, if not guarantee public backing and probably some level of military support.



However, given the vastness of Iran, I don't think it's a nation anyone is going to want to go it alone on. I mean at least Iraq was unstable, it was easy to use propaganda to turn Iraqi citizens against each other, I think this will be much more difficult in Iran. Israel and the USA (one and the same?) will probably be considering "tactical" nuclear strikes.


By which point people back home should be out in the streets tearing their elected representatives to shreds. Well except in Israel where their all for mass murder of innocent civilians, there'll probably be street parties.

[jiffy]

I have a strong feeling that the attack on Gaza wasn't timed because of the Israeli election, it was more to do with the change of administration ie a change of priority.
I also acknowledge that the US will never cut ties with the Israel, but maybe a tad colder.

[size_of_light]

I still have stuff hid in my closet that my girlfriend can't find

Do tell! :D

I'm also more interested in this than the non-story in the OP.

Whatcha got in there, ya freak?!!!!

[drhemp]

Israel does have nuclear weapons in the Middle East.

[bealert]

They should be attacked now with nuclear tipped bunker buster bombs to prevent them from gaining only what Western Nations are allowed to have. Then freedom for the west to have its way with Iran will reign supreme for years to come.
why do you fear iran? it has not started a war for over 2000 years. surely it has a right to defend it self and if not why not. its not going to start a nuclear war against israel or america while these country's can respond with nuclear bombs. I dont believe America can be trusted after all it lied about iraq so why do you believe them about iran?

[dreamweaver]

why do you fear iran? it has not started a war for over 2000 years. surely it has a right to defend it self and if not why not. its not going to start a nuclear war against israel or america while these country's can respond with nuclear bombs. I dont believe America can be trusted after all it lied about iraq so why do you believe them about iran?

I think you'll find knightbk was being slightly sarcastic. ;)

[sithnemesis]

http://www.bockscar.de/blog/Bilder/iranwar.png

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_MeVWy9U7vjg/SU9qHlZKCNI/AAAAAAAABho/sSZFr8FQrxA/s320/Iran_Nuclear_Bomb.jpg

http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/israel-iran-cartoon-4.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hVs-58FuMPs/SSeTU8d6ccI/AAAAAAAAAP0/7CmWj8aAiKw/s400/Iran+atom+bomb.jpg

http://photos.upi.com/story/w/e1f747a33dfcb2542bf728fbacfb14c5/Report_Iran_satellite_was_overreaction.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RaRg5_v_Eus/Rgxt8MJlRrI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/h-WlooJwfoA/s400/gmIranHostage.jpg

:D

[yozhik]

This is just a comedy piece ... right?

On the threshold?
Of what?
They have enough LOW GRADE uranium that requires further enrichment to become weapons grade.
There is no report on the evidence that they even have the technology to perform this further enrichment.
Nor do any of these fear mongering stories report how long it would take to turn that low grade uranium into weapons grade unranium.

As with most media beat ups, this is bullshit laced with an overdose of hyperbole.


... and besides; a nuclear armed Iran is what the area needs!
At least it would keep a lid on Israel !!
Nothing like a new cold war to get Israel to shut the fuck up and give it cold sharp bitch slap into learning some form of foreign diplomacy. anything is better than Israel holding the threat of a nuclear attack over the entire Middle East.

Move along; nothing to see here ...


.

[fnulnu]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hVs-58FuMPs/SSeTU8d6ccI/AAAAAAAAAP0/7CmWj8aAiKw/s400/Iran+atom+bomb.jpg

There's the one that sums it up nicely.Needz moar Vanunu.

[mikethepunk]

They should be attacked now with nuclear tipped bunker buster bombs to prevent them from gaining only what Western Nations are allowed to have. Then freedom for the west to have its way with Iran will reign supreme for years to come.

You are a complete fascist/shill for the NWO.
Go to Burger King and pig out.

[blueyonder2012]

US FUNDING IRAN NUKES!!

PROBLEM = REACTION =SOLUTION

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.


:rolleyes:

[papiere bitte]

... and besides; a nuclear armed Iran is what the area needs!
At least it would keep a lid on Israel !!
Nothing like a new cold war to get Israel to shut the fuck up and give it cold sharp bitch slap into learning some form of foreign diplomacy. anything is better than Israel holding the threat of a nuclear attack over the entire Middle East.

My sentiments exactly.

The middle east needs a Muslim nuclear power, not so that they can go nuking countries like Israel - but so that they can pose an equal threat and have more say about how nations conduct themselves in that region.

It's not like they, or anyone, would have the capacity to launch a nuclear attack on US soil.

Of course, the whole "OMG dems arabs got WMDs!" is the same bullshit that lead us into Iraq. It doesn't really matter whether or not Iran has nukes.

[jiffy]

Go to Burger King and pig out.

Has to be best put down I have read all week:D top marks

[microverses]

a few days before I read this article, which was Thursday if I recall correctly, I read another on BBC. In this one they detailed how many centrifuges Iran had running, how many installed and in testing and how many were installed but doing nothing.

The 'expert' (can't recall name) said they had exceeded expectations with regards to output of material. He went on to state that is was important to remember that even if they (Iran) had enough material, it would be to make one bomb only and it would take around fives years for them to get to that point.

Then this comes out a few days later.

[nirvana00]

My sentiments exactly.

The middle east needs a Muslim nuclear power, not so that they can go nuking countries like Israel - but so that they can pose an equal threat and have more say about how nations conduct themselves in that region.

It's not like they, or anyone, would have the capacity to launch a nuclear attack on US soil.

Of course, the whole "OMG dems arabs got WMDs!" is the same bullshit that lead us into Iraq. It doesn't really matter whether or not Iran has nukes.


There's already a Muslim nuclear power (Pakistan) whose missiles can penetrate into Israel. And Iranian government and its military are a joke just like the other militaries in the region. They can bark but can't bite (look what happened during israeli invasion of gaza). The only muslim countries capable of giving israel a bloody nose are turkey and pakistan.