Iran Nearing `Dangerous' Breakthrough in Building Nuclear Bomb, U.S. Says

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

Sept. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Iran’s nuclear work is approaching a “dangerous and destabilizing” point at which the Persian Gulf country could build a bomb, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency said.

“Iran is now either very near or in possession already of sufficient low-enriched uranium to produce one nuclear weapon, if the decision were made to further enrich it to weapons grade,” Ambassador Glyn Davies said today in a statement prepared for the IAEA’s 35-member board of governors, which is meeting for a third day in Vienna.

This “moves Iran closer to a dangerous and destabilizing possible breakout capacity,” Davies added, in some of the strongest comments yet used by a U.S. official about the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program. He repeated President Barack Obama’s overtures to Iran for direct negotiations and said the administration in Washington is committed to a negotiated resolution to the international dispute over Iran’s work.

Iran, holder of the world’s No. 2 oil and natural gas reserves, is under three sets of UN Security Council sanctions for refusing to halt uranium enrichment, a process to isolate an isotope needed to generate fuel for a nuclear power reactor or, in higher concentrations, to make a weapon. The government in Tehran says it wants to generate power and rejects Western allegations that it seeks to build an atomic bomb.

‘Weapons Option’

“We have serious concerns that Iran is deliberately attempting, at a minimum, to preserve a nuclear weapons option,” said Davies, in his first IAEA meeting since being appointed by Obama.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a7V8D6BH4McM

[Lerkfish]

1. and the drumbeats of war continue.

we should trust this assessment, because the US envoy to the UN says it? like Colin Powell said it about Iraq?

dddddddd

[Infinite Hope]

8. You could be right. But we also don't know that it's not true. n/t

[Lerkfish]

10. and I also don't know that you're not a pink dragon.

that doesn't make you a pink dragon automatically.

[peacetalksforall]

2. This is totally opposite of what the UN said - on Monday? I'm sorry I can't believe

the U.S. when it comes to Iran. And I can't believe Israel.

[Mosby]

5. The report on Monday was from the IAEA

BEIRUT, Lebanon — The head of the United Nations nuclear oversight agency said Monday that his organization was in a “stalemate” with Iran over its nuclear program, just after the Iranian president affirmed once again that his country would not stop uranium enrichment or negotiate over its nuclear rights.

Mohamed ElBaradei, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the group’s 35-nation board that Iran had not stopped enriching uranium or answered lingering questions about its nuclear program.

He urged Iran to “substantively re-engage” with the nuclear agency, and to “respond positively to the recent U.S. initiative” on a dialogue about nuclear issues.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/world/middleeast/08iran.html?ref=middleeast

FYI - it's not just Israel and the US that are concerned about Iran's nuclear ambitions:

Britain, France and Germany joined Washington's call, urging Iran to engage in "meaningful negotiations" aimed at achieving a comprehensive diplomatic solution to the international standoff over it's disputed nuclear program.

The three major European powers said it was "inexcusable" that Iran continues to refuse any degree of transparency or cooperation in clarifying outstanding issues and that it's current attitude further reinforces doubts about its endeavor.

"Iran should make use of the window of opportunity provided now," said the joint statement, delivered by German envoy Ruediger Luedeking. "We have extended a hand and we appeal to Iran to take it."

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/09/world/AP-EU-UN-NuclearAgency.html?_r=1&ref=world

[Soylent Brice]

3. "same old story, same old song and dance..."

K&R

[fascisthunter]

4. Pentagon still spreading its propaganda I see

[HopeHoops]

6. Why worry about that? Israel is reported to be sitting on at least 100 warheads.

They can "booga booga" about Iran all they want, but Iran isn't a country of idiots. Their leaders aren't idiots. They can saber rattle all they want, but they aren't suicidal.

North Korea on the other hand is run by hot-headed morons. I don't think they give a shit if they self-destruct, as long as they take out "the enemy" in the process. I have good friends who moved here from S. Korea out of fear. They believe it is only a matter of "when".

[BOG PERSON]

15. n/m

[The Stranger]

7. If they're "already in possession" of it, and obviously are happy with just being "in possession" of

it, then why all the hubbub, bub?

The boy who cried wolf is crying "wolf" again.

[peacetalksforall]

9. If all of this is only a cry-out for a treaty, bless us. If all this is a prelude to

bombing them - I will drop out - there is no hope. Obama is our hope - if - he doesn't cave to profiteers and if he has the power to resist the invasion and bombing of Iran. This is somewhat of a test of Israel's power over us.

We have lived with too many years of reading the 'desire' by the war gluttons to bomb Iran.

Many/most/the majority of the Iranian people are friends with the world. It's the leaders who make everyone suffer.

[ShortnFiery]

11. Bullshit! eom

[roamer65]

12. Sounds like they pass the Israeli propoganda directly.

With no changes or editing.

[bemildred]

13. This is embarassing drivel.

Iran is signatory to the NPT and has the law on its side. I don't want to defend the Ayatollah's and their reactionary state, but this sort of dishonest drivel just strengthens their position and makes us look bad.

[high density]

14. So what if they do have a nuclear weapon?

Using it would be a suicide mission.