Report: Iran Has Enough Nuclear Fuel For One Atom Bomb

Iran has now produced roughly enough nuclear material to make, with added purification, a single atom bomb, according to nuclear experts analyzing the latest report from global atomic inspectors.

The figures detailing Iran's progress were contained in a routine update on Wednesday from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has been conducting inspections of the country's main nuclear plant at Natanz. The report concluded that as of early this month, Iran had made 630 kilograms, or about 1,390 pounds, of low-enriched uranium.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[MagisterLudi]

The St. Petersburg Declaration

April 5, 2007

We are secular Muslims, and secular persons of Muslim societies. We are believers, doubters, and unbelievers, brought together by a great struggle, not between the West and Islam, but between the free and the unfree.

We affirm the inviolable freedom of the individual conscience. We believe in the equality of all human persons.

We insist upon the separation of religion from state and the observance of universal human rights.

We find traditions of liberty, rationality, and tolerance in the rich histories of pre-Islamic and Islamic societies. These values do not belong to the West or the East; they are the common moral heritage of humankind.

We see no colonialism, racism, or so-called "Islamaphobia" in submitting Islamic practices to criticism or condemnation when they violate human reason or rights.

We call on the governments of the world to

* reject Sharia law, fatwa courts, clerical rule, and state-sanctioned religion in all their forms; oppose all penalties for blasphemy and apostasy, in accordance with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights;
* eliminate practices, such as female circumcision, honor killing, forced veiling, and forced marriage, that further the oppression of women;
* protect sexual and gender minorities from persecution and violence;
* reform sectarian education that teaches intolerance and bigotry towards non-Muslims;
* and foster an open public sphere in which all matters may be discussed without coercion or intimidation.
Continued:
http://www.centerforinquiry.net/isis

[MagisterLudi]

Opinion from European Union.
" Iran is nearing the ability to arm a nuclear warhead even if it insists its atomic activities are peaceful, the European Union warned Wednesday. the EU also asserted that Iran appeared to have had a past nuclear arms program despite its denials... "leads one to think that the Iran has methodically pursued a program aimed at acquiring the nuclear bomb."

[chaos4700]

Seriously, dude. Spamming the comment threads with invectives and accusations isn't even remotely convincing. It only makes you look like lunatic fringe.

[MagisterLudi]

The Associated Press

"VIENNA, Austria -- Iran is nearing the ability to arm a nuclear warhead even if it insists its atomic activities are peaceful, the European Union warned Wednesday.
In comments prepared for delivery to the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35 board members, the EU also asserted that Iran appeared to have had a past nuclear arms program despite its denials."

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080924/iran_nukes_080924/20080924?hub=World

[MagisterLudi]

EUROPEAN SECURITY & GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
Iran"s nuclear challenge and European diplomacy paper No. 46.

"Tehran"s lack of cooperation with the IAEA, coupled with its constant reneging on its agreements with the
EU-3, suggests that its desire to produce nuclear energy is just a smokescreen to cover up its ambition to
acquire a nuclear weapons capability. Iran wants the world to believe that it does not intend to build
nuclear weapons, yet its current behaviour suggests otherwise."

[functor]

Iran is goig to get the nukes (inshallah!). You got to get ready!

[MagisterLudi]

Iranian ayatollas want a nuke to prolong their survival. It actually may help on threats from without.
But Iranian closed fundamentalist theocracy is more likely to rot from within. Eventually, true Iranian patriots will take the issue in their hands and liberate their country.
And the multitude of mindless cyber Jihadis who post here will protest all the way.
Meanwhile, the world needs to achieve a difficult balance between helping Iranian progressives while marginalizing and delegitimatizing the mullahs. "Talk softly and carry a big stick" works wonders.

[functor]

"......Eventually, true Iranian patriots will take the issue in their hands and liberate their country....." so my friend, what you are doing here in US. Take the matters in your hand. Oh! may be you found fleding out of your country much easier...lol

[MagisterLudi]

I am European: born and raised, habibi number 2

[paixa3]

If the USA produced the report, I do not believe it. That simple.

[MagisterLudi]

The report was produced by International Atomic Energy Agency. The agency is headed by Dr.Mohamed Mostafa El-Baradei, an Egyptian M-lim and co-recipient of Nobel Peace Prize.

Quote: "Regrettably, the Agency has not been able to make substantive progress on the alleged studies and associated questions relevant to possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme. These remain of serious concern.' ElBaradei

Believe it now? let me guess....

[vippy]

I guess Iran's nuke capability is supposed to scare us like Bush's Bin Laden figure did! Don't fall
for it people. Iran said what it will do with it, make nuke energy. Besides I feel a lot more comfortable with Iran have nukes than Pakistan! Get real people.

[MagisterLudi]

Vippy: "I feel a lot more comfortable with Iran have nukes than Pakistan"
So you feel more comfortable with a country run by opressive fundamentalist theocracy. This says about your allegiances more than the actual geo-politics.

"Iran"s Minister of Interior is implicated in grave human rights violations over the past two decades, possibly including crimes against humanity in connection with the massacre of thousands of political prisoners."
Human Rights Watch

"Iran's domestic and foreign policy is hostile to the very principles of human dignity and the principles of the universal declaration of human rights."
UN Watch

"Iran: Violations of human rights continue unabated
Amnesty International is greatly concerned by continuing human rights violations in Iran, including new arrests of human rights defenders and the high rate of executions, including the first execution by stoning..."
Amnesty International
http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGMDE130852007&lang=e

United Nations the General Assembly expressed "its very serious concern at a whole range of egregious human rights violations, including torture, flogging, amputations, public executions, stoning, execution of minors, violent action taken against women, and called upon the Iranian government to eliminate all its appalling and cruel practices."

[papapj]

So what is Israel if not an 'oppressive fundamentralist theocracy' run on an apartheid basis?

"Israeli security forces committed numerous serious human rights abuses during the year.... Since the violence began, [September 2000] Israeli security units often used excessive force against Palestinian demonstrators"

http://www.counterpunch.org/loewenstein.html

State Department.

"...the facts of the situation are clearly so unbalanced that he is obliged to conclude that "Israel"s response to terror is disproportionate" and on occasion "so remote from the interests of security that it assumes the character of punishment, humiliation and conquest."

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/oct2003/unhc-o17.shtml

UN Human Rights Department

The Gazan sticks and stones and antiquated rockets are no match for the IDF, this fact is universally recognised, but hardly ever acknowledged.

I don't feel comfortable about ANYBODY having nukes in that region. The IDF has the 4th largest army on the planet, is VERY well equipped (courtesy of our tax dollars) and has no need for the threatening possession of nukes.

[hu.man]

I wouldn't put it exactly like vippy did. I would say that Pakistan's nuclear capabilities and the militant ascendancy within that country poses a far more serious threat than Iran's would-be nuclear capability and our obsession with it. To be sure, we should continue engaging Iran with the goal of putting a damper on nuclear proliferation. But the Pakistan nuclear issue is like the sub prime mortgage mess that waiting to bite us in the back while no one is paying attention. It deserves far more attention than it is currently getting in MSM.

[functor]

If US can have nukes why not Iran?? Who has ever used nukes in the war?? what makes US more "responsible" then any other country??..........OH OH, "dangerous mullahs" will destroye the world...oh.

You better don't dare to answer it since it doesn't fall in your "logic"

[hrhkat]

You know, they may have enough for one atom bomb, but they wouldnt dare use it because it would be suicide. What Isre al would do to iran would make Hiroshima look like an easy bake oven. Every single person, house, store, and army base would turn into ash and nuclear waste, uninhabitable for 100 years, Iran isnt stupid. What they will do tho, it sell their "technology" to the saudis and other arab counties to make their own bombs. Isre al would then be threatened by way more countries then Iran, but not one of those countries would dare target Jerusalem, for it is very important to them. In the end, much of isr eal would be hurt, but the level in which the entire middlest will be hurt would be incredibly heinious. Plus the president of Iran isnt even in charge, so i dont see that future any time soon, and this is just bush propoganda, but it is somthing to keep our eye on.

[Sundialsvc4]

... or to fuel how many civilian nuclear reactors for power-generation purposes, mmm?

[MagisterLudi]

Opinion from U.N. Security Council.

"The Iranian leadership"s claim that the Council sought to deprive Iran of its right to peaceful nuclear energy... was simply not true. "

"Many other Governments around the world, enjoyed national civilian nuclear energy programmes without any difficulties, demonstrating that there was no incompatibility between a country"s right to a peaceful nuclear-energy programme and its non-proliferation obligations."

[itsthemedication]

We can all be thankful that Israel is in the middle of an election and can't do much more than the usual Gaza murders. Bush would do the deed for his masters in Israel if the economy weren't on the verge of collapse. Still, the "Israel first" fifth columnist crowd here in the US is still quite capable of spinning some significant propaganda in their controlled media segment - and this headline proves it.

Iran is doing what Israel never did. They are allowing inspectors and they are a signed member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation pact. The enhancement of 3% uranium to 85/95% percent weapons grade uranium is NOT a trivial task. It takes far more centrifuges than Iran has to perform it in any realistic time period, and shielding such an undertaking from inspectors would be quite a trick.

Israel is the one that broke the laws. Israel create a nuclear middle east. Israel should be sanctioned until they give up all nuclear weapons and we have the most sane solution - a nuclear free zone. And, during this whole mess we have to keep an eye on Pakistan - another "ally" and outlaw nation.

[arvay]

Terrific post!

it's amazing the way Israel's fifth column keeps the facts you mention out of the news. Clearly, if Israel gave up its nukes, other nations of the region would have no reason to develop theirs.

[ZenJu]

You don't fool some of us. Israel may have a small nuclear force why? Because this tiny little democracy is grossly mismatched against its would-be killers. Israel is SMALL...on a scale with, say, New Jersey...and has only 7 million people. I would challenge you to look up some maps of the Arab/Islamic world and compare little Israel's size to that of the combined nation-states of that region...and compare population stats, too. It's been the Arab/Islamic world that has more or less consistently howled for Israel's destruction since its birth in 1948 and has repeatedly armed against and attacked Israel. Israel had to have a deterrent in such situations AND to keep it mysterious. Before you quote Israel's "violations" of UN rulings, look at the forces arrrayed in the UN AGAINST Israel and see if you can figure why. (Just because something's "legal" doesn't make it right).
Bottom line: Israel's never threatened to destroy Iran. Iran HAS repeatedly and loudly called for the elimination of Israel. I support Israel as a democracy where all, Jewish, Arab, Armenian, women, men, straight, gay, Christian, Muslim, can live freely.

[Passenger57]

What fear-mongering! What a non-story! Halfway through the article you read that they have nuclear-power-plant grade uranium,NOT weapons grade.So the REAL story is that (so far) the Iranians are perfectly within their legal rights,enriching uranium for the exact purpose they stated all along - nuclear power plants. They have oil,but no refineries ; nuclear power makes sense for them.
That's like a story with the headline, "Psychopath Has German WW2 Rail Gun", but halfway through you read that it's in pieces, it needs ammo that's no longer made, and there aren't any rails.
This story is pretty shabby,seemingly meant for those who only read headlines.

[MagisterLudi]

. "IAEA Agency has not been able to make substantive progress on the alleged studies and associated questions relevant to possible military dimensions to Iran"s nuclear programme. These remain of serious concern."

[dadw5boys]

The more radio active stiff you get the more money has to leave other programs to support the care and maintance of the storage and security of radio active junk.

The U.S. Market was hit hard when Iran pulled all it's money out of the World Fianicial Markets.

[DutchExpat2008]

Something tells me there are lots of supporters of the terr or state of I s r a e l working for HUFFPO.

[Hoslo2]

Your I s r a e l bashing is the same s h i * as untruth report and war mongering about Iran..

Stop it!

[DutchExpat2008]

http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/11/19/israel_bans_international_media_from_gaza_arrests_human_rights_activists/6228/

[MagisterLudi]

one taco short of a combination plate

[DutchExpat2008]

The most highly ras cist nation on earth and purveyour of terr or controls all US media.

Never hear anything negative about I s r a e l and yet they are committing genocide as we speak.

http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/11/19/israel_bans_international_media_from_gaza_arrests_human_rights_activists/6228/

[MagisterLudi]

How did you find out, Viet Vet?!You're a genius. If fact the ENTIRE thing is ran by a cabal of of agents form you-know-where. The owner's name REAL is Ari Sharon-ffington. THe main editor's name is Haim Ben Elder of Sion Jr.
.. RUN FOR THE HILLS, VET .... oh,. sorry no hills in Holland..... run for the windmills and start tilting!!!

[TLCB]

There's your weapons of mass destruction, W. You gonna invade Iran too as a parting gift?

[Hoslo2]

650 kg 3% uranium is not a weapon!

It's just a propaganda weapon in the hands of war mongering fear lobby!

[DutchExpat2008]

Bingo..............Is rae l is the real threat and danger in the region. Look at the genocidal actions they are doing..

[DutchExpat2008]

http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/11/19/israel_bans_international_media_from_gaza_arrests_human_rights_activists/6228/

[MagisterLudi]

Opinion from European Union government:
" Iran is nearing the ability to arm a nuclear warhead even if it insists its atomic activities are peaceful," the European Union warned Wednesday. "Iran appeared to have had a past nuclear arms program despite its denials... this leads one to think that the Iran has methodically pursued a program aimed at acquiring the nuclear bomb."

[Whinger]

How much nuclear fuel has America, China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and the UK produced?

[MagisterLudi]

A Syrian facility that Israel bombed last year had similarities to a nuclear reactor and chemically processed uranium particles were found at the site, but a final determination can't be made until Syria provides "the necessary transparency," a new U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency report out Wednesday says.

"The onus of this investigation is on Syria," said a senior U.N. official, who requested anonymity because the report is confidential.

A separate IAEA report says that Iran has persisted in stymieing the agency's probe of its nuclear program and continues to defy U.N. Security Council demands to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can produce fuel for nuclear weapons.

[max08]

"[T]he IAEA has found no radioactive material in the area of the destructed [Syrian] facility" was announced on September 22, and reported worldwide.

So now a report says otherwise?

And "low-enriched uranium" is NOT WEAPONS GRADE! It's what you need to run a nuclear submarine or a nuclear plant.

Fer crissakes, cut this s**t out.

[DutchExpat2008]

http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/11/19/israel_bans_international_media_from_gaza_arrests_human_rights_activists/6228/

[Hirnlego]

Anyone really still believe the media is free? And no, I don't talk about da jooos or zi onists running the show...