IRNA, the official Iranian news agency, reported today that the Iranian government has approved a plan to build 10 additional uranium enrichment plants. IRNA said the decision has “infuriated” the US administration.
President Ahmadinejad has ordered the construction of the new sites to produce some 250-300 tons of LEU annually. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran will be in charge of the construction of the new sites. The current Iranian inventory of LEU is reportedly less than two tons.
The move would signify a major expansion of enrichment activities by Iran. It was not clear why the country would need so much LEU fuel when it does not even have a single running electricity-generating nuclear reactor.
UPDATE: Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi told reporters in Tehran on Monday that Iran does intend to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants each with capacity to produce 20 percent enriched uranium. He emphasized that the plan announced earlier today was not a “political bluff.”
“They [the West] must see and will see that what we said was not a bluff,” Rahimi added [IRNA, 30 November].
It's largely a symbolic gesture of defiance: making public, elements of a projected scope for its expansive nuclear program. It shows resolve and it serves to match, in its own way, the political grandstanding that took place at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, where the West "revealed" the existence of Iran's previously disclosed pilot enrichment facility near Qom.
ReplyDeleteMark,
ReplyDeleteIt takes decades for the country to build nuclear reactors at numbers that would require so much LEU fuel. The country is much better off to start building its first reactor and use it to show its resolve. These empty gestures do not get the country anywhere.
Nader,
ReplyDeletewhat you say is true. Also, sitting on your chair and complaining about the present situation " beshin lengesh kon" wont get the country go anywhere as well.
i believe ahamdinajad said what he want to do after election in june he was said my new government in this level must do 10 times faster than last government since he came for second time in power he was the only president in the planet with mounted of pressure in his shoulder than any president in this world taking resopond for as far as i see his character focuse and straght forward for his massion his is not bloughing to any one but say it and do it right in the point.10 side can be achieved in 2 to 3 years time and center fuses from 9000 at his point can reach in matter of 3 to 4 weeks to 20000 or 25000 ir3 model which is 6 times faster than ir2 centerfuses. the iaea know that will.if the increase to even 20000 ir3 center fuses can produce 28350 kg every 6 month leu in 5% that enough to make at lease 12 100mt nuclear weapon.
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