Iran has 'at least 5.7 kg of high-enriched uranium'

[demoleft]

Source: afp

AFP - Iran had produced at least 5.7 kilogrammes (12.5 pounds) of highly-enriched uranium, which it says it is producing for a research reactor, as of early April, according to a restricted UN report seen by AFP on Monday.

"On April 7 2010, Iran withdrew 5.7 kilogrammes of UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) from the first cascade" at its pilot fuel enrichment plant in Natanz, the International Atomic Energy Agency report said.

"According to Iran, this UF6 was enriched to 19.7 percent."

But a senior diplomat with knowledge of the IAEA's Iran investigation said that the actual amount was more.

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20100531-iran-has-least-57-kg-high-enriched-uranium

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Iran offered to put its EU under control and we said no.

We rejected the deal worked out by Turkey and Brazil to resolve the Iranian EU issue, a deal that met the terms we set out before the deal was arranged. Concurrently we have been obstructing negotiations over the NPT review as it would interfere with Israels unfettered 'secret' nuclear weapons program in an attempt to create an actual mideast nuclear free zone.

We are the problem here. A deal can be reached that would end Iran's nuclear weapons program, but it will require Israel to rid itself of its weapons. We are not going to just have it our way.

[leveymg]

2. That's barely commercial reactor grade, not weapons material.

[Psephos]

11. Actually, fuel grade is 4% to 5%. "Weapons Usable" is 20%. "Weapons Grade" is >80%.

If the uranium is for peaceful purposes, there is no reason to enrich past 5%.

[leveymg]

19. Actually, it's Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) (less than 20%, suitable for a research reactor)

Low-enriched uranium' (LEU) has a lower than 20% concentration of 235U. For use in commercial light water reactors (LWR), the most prevalent power reactors in the world, uranium is enriched to 3 to 5% 235U. Fresh LEU used in research reactors is usually enriched 12% to 19.75% U-235, the latter concentration being used to replace HEU fuels when converting to LEU.

Highly enriched uranium (HEU) has a greater than 20% concentration of 235U or 233U.

The fissile uranium in nuclear weapons usually contains 85% or more of 235U known as weapon(s)-grade.

The very first uranium bomb, Little Boy in 1945, used 64 kilograms of 80% enriched uranium.

[izquierdista]

3. This isn't "news"

Almost any country with the desire can make HEU. North Korea may not be able to feed its people, but it can make HEU.

The key to a peaceful world is not restricting the manufacture of HEU, but removing the desire to make HEU.

[Wizard777]

4. Not the best time to be showing their ass.

[sasquuatch55]

5. They have every right to defend themselves and give a FUCK YOU to any aggressors!

nt

[Wizard777]

6. Yeah, but there are a lot of people falling off fences right now.

They wouldn't want to mess with the tilt. Not the best time to be going for a spotlight to show their ass.

[ShamelessHussy]

7. that is still no where near weapons grade... and they allow inspectors in, i'd be more worried about

the other ME nation that we know has weapons grade nuclear material.

[David__77]

9. What about the one with nuclear weapons?

I'm not referring to Pakistan...

[ShamelessHussy]

12. I'm more concerned about their known, yet officially SECRET, WMD Program

I'm not referring to pakistan, either...

[breadandwine]

8. What's 19% enriched ANYWAY???

You'd have to run that through a centrifuge 3 more times to get weapons grade. What's the big deal? That could take weeks! Weeks I say!


Don't look at this!!!!! ----

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8397344

[Psephos]

13. Those vids speak for themselves.

It still astonishes me that on a liberal board, there are throngs of angry posters who support nuclear proliferation, let alone by the Iranian theocrats.

If there is anything less liberal than covering for, or even advocating on behalf of, the acquisition of nukes by ultraconservative religious fundies who hold Holocaust-denial conventions and hang gay teenagers, I am unaware of it.

I can shorten that to: Is there anything less liberal than promoting the spread of nuclear weapons?

[BreweryYardRat]

16. Too many people assume that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Even people on our side, who should know better.

:sarcasm: "Iran doesn't like the current repressive right-wing Israeli government?! Gee, neither do we! Iran is great!" :sarcasm:

[bananas]

17. Astonishes me too. nt

[bananas]

18. Director-General’s reports on Iran and Syria leaked to armscontrolwonk

embedded links to the pdfs in this blog entry:

http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/2751/gov201028-and-gov201029

GOV/2010/28 and GOV/2010/29
posted Monday May 31, 2010 under iaea, iran by jeffrey

Someone The IAEA has released (to me) the most recent Director-General’s reports on Iran and Syria.

Since it is Memorial Day, I am not going to even bother reading these until tomorrow.

[Hardrada]

10. So fucking what??

Iran is not my enemy.

[Catherina]

14. Agreed n/t

[boppers]

15. 10 years, and that's the best they can do?

Wow, they're at least 15-20 years away from even being capable of a functional weapons program at that rate.