nuclear-news

Iran’s nuclear progress slowed, but “could produce” bombs

Iran could produce two nuclear bombs within two years, London think tank warns – TelegraphUK, 3 Feb 2011, Iran is definitely pursuing a nuclear weapon and could produce two bombs within two years, a leading London think tank has warned.  By Damien McElroy,   03 Feb 2011

A report from The International Institute of Strategic Studies said Iran had two routes to making a nuclear weapon from its existing nuclear plants.

Iran’s nuclear facilities have produced enough low enriched uranium (LEU) to be used to make nuclear weapons.

The report echoed Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, who told the Commons on Monday that it was “entirely possible” the Islamic Republic might have developed a nuclear weapon by next year.

Mark Fitzpatrick, the report author, said he believed beyond reasonable doubt that Iran was pursuing a nuclear bomb.

A four stage manufacturing method developed by Pakistan to produce its nuclear weapons – plans for which have been sold to Tehran – would produce a nuclear weapon for Iran within a year and seven months.

However an untried technique to manufacture highly enriched uranium in one go, known to specialists as “batch enrichment process,” would generate enough material in under a year.

In both cases it would take another four months to install the uranium warhead………………international sanctions and covert actions such as the Stuxnet computer virus to prevent Iran acquiring equipment and radioactive supplies had thrown up severe hurdles for the programme, he added, while clandestine efforts to infiltrate black market supply networks had also hampered Iranian progress.

The Daily Telegraph has published detailed US diplomatic material obtained by WikiLeaks, that shows British firms made millions trading with Iran in sectors targeted by international sanctions.

Mr Fitzpatrick said Iran had not been able to develop new generations of centrifuges – crucial in uranium enrichment – because of industrial sabotage.

More sophisticated machines would allow Iran to produce up to 10 times more enriched uranium and would reduce the time to construction of a bomb to four to six weeks.

He warned that Iran’s nuclear programme was becoming increasingly dangerous. The risk of an accident from the use of faulty home-made equipment in nuclear plants had risen.

Iran could produce two nuclear bombs within two years, London think tank warns – Telegraph

February 4, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Iran, weapons and war