Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

EU Experts Say Iran Closer to Nuke Weapon

Tehran a year away on uranium; separate UN report out today

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 22, 2008 9:25 AM CST

(Newser) – A new report from a European Union agency concludes that Iran could have enough uranium to build an atomic bomb within one year. The EU results—which precede a major UN report coming out today—look nothing like the findings of the US intelligence community, writes Der Spiegel: the recent National Intelligence Estimate said that Iran would be able to obtain enough highly enriched uranium between 2010 and 2015.

The European analysis used computer simulations of Iran's centrifuges and is quick to point out that their conclusions are scientific, not political: they make no claim that Iran is actually at work on a weapon. But a number of signs indicate that Tehran's interest in nuclear technology goes beyond civilian use: only two days ago, a group of exile Iranian opposition figures published images allegedly depicting a bomb-making facility.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sits under a map of his country,  as he attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sits under a map of his country, as he attends a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)   (Associated Press)
The head of the U.N. atomic watchdog  Mohamed ElBaradei leaves the Elysee Palace after his talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Thursday Feb.14, 2008 in Paris. The talks come amid new signs that Iran's sensitive centrifuge activity is progressing, and after Sarkozy called sternly for further isolating Iran's...
The head of the U.N. atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei leaves the Elysee Palace after his talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Thursday Feb.14, 2008 in Paris. The talks come amid new signs that...   (Associated Press)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, addresses the crowd, Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, during a rally to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution at Azadi Square, Tehran, Iran. In 1979, more than five million people lined the streets of the nation's capital, Tehran, to witness the homecoming of Ayatollah...
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, addresses the crowd, Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, during a rally to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution at Azadi Square, Tehran, Iran. In 1979,...   (Associated Press)
Alireza Jafarzadeh, head of the Washington-based think tank, Strategic Policy Consulting Inc., addresses the media during a press conference organized by the Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008. The Iranian opposition movement alleged Wednesday that they had concrete evidence of the...
Alireza Jafarzadeh, head of the Washington-based think tank, Strategic Policy Consulting Inc., addresses the media during a press conference organized by the Committee of the National Council of Resistance...   (Associated Press)
Alireza Jafarzadeh, head of the Washington-based think tank, Strategic Policy Consulting Inc., addresses the media during a press conference organized by the Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008. The Iranian opposition movement alleged Wednesday that they had concrete evidence of the...
Alireza Jafarzadeh, head of the Washington-based think tank, Strategic Policy Consulting Inc., addresses the media during a press conference organized by the Committee of the National Council of Resistance...   (Associated Press)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, center, leaves parliament at the conclusion of debate for his nominee for Minister of Education, Alireza Aliahmadi, unseen, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. Iran's parliament on Tuesday approved Alireza Aliahmadi as a new minister of Education. In Dec. 2007 Iran's education minister Mahmoud Farshidi...
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, center, leaves parliament at the conclusion of debate for his nominee for Minister of Education, Alireza Aliahmadi, unseen, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008....   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne