Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Iran 6 Months From Nuke-Ready: Report

Senate report warns uranium stockpile could cause regional arms race

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted May 8, 2009 3:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Experts believe Iran could be only 6 months away from having enough weapons-grade material for a nuclear bomb, CNN reports. While there's no indication Iran is preparing to build a bomb, the status of the country's nuclear program remains largely unknown, and its uranium stockpile has the potential to destabilize the region, said a Senate report released yesterday.

"Many nations in the region already fear an ascendant Iran," the report said. "Simply producing a large enough stockpile of low-enriched uranium for weapons could confer on Iran new leverage over the critical region. It also could motivate some of its neighbors to seek their own nuclear capability."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Iranian technicians are seen at a new facility producing uranium fuel for a planned heavy-water nuclear reactor, just outside the city of Isfahan. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A sign reading "Atomic Power Plant" points the way to the nuclear power facility in Bushehr, Iran. A Senate Foreign Relations Committee has expressed skepticism about Iran's nuclear intentions. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The fact that it has enriched a significant quantity of reactor-grade uranium gives Iran the option of moving quickly if its leaders make a political decision to
build a bomb. - Senate Foreign Relations Committee

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Iran Wants to Change Uranium Deal

But Tehran proposal would make the agreement pointless

(NEWSER) - Iran continues to waffle on the details of the deal under consideration to ship its enriched uranium to Russia. Now it's saying that if it does agree to the deal—a formal response is due Friday—it won't send all of its uranium at once. Instead, it will send shipments to Russia in installments, a condition that would make the agreement largely pointless. More»

Iran Boosts Uranium Stockpile

UN reports finds country may already have enough for bomb

(NEWSER) - Iran is rapidly moving forward with its nuclear program and may already have enriched enough uranium to take the next step toward building a nuclear bomb, the Financial Times reports. The uranium will need more enrichment to reach weapons-grade levels, say UN experts, who believe the country will wait until it has amassed more nuclear material before attempting the "breakthrough." More»

Confirmed: Iran Enriching Uranium Underground

Higher level of enrichment at Fordo prompts international concern

(NEWSER) - Iran's claim has been confirmed: The country has indeed begun enriching uranium at an underground bunker, two diplomats tell the AP today. They call the news particularly worrying because the Fordo site is being used to make material that can be upgraded more quickly and easily for use in a nuclear weapon than the nation's main enriched stockpile. The anonymous diplomats, whose info comes from an inspection of Fordo last week by the International Atomic Energy Agency, say that centrifuges at the Fordo facility are churning out uranium enriched to 20%, compared to the 3.5% being made at Iran's main enrichment plant. More»

Iran: We Can Process Our Own Uranium

Claims independence in nuclear cycle a day ahead of Geneva talks

(NEWSER) - Iran is processing its first batch of home-grown uranium, the nation's nuke chief said today, claiming total independence in the nuclear fuel cycle just a day ahead of Geneva talks meant to dissuade the country from its nuclear program. "Today, we witnessed the shipment of the first domestically produced yellowcake from Gachin mine to the Isfahan nuclear facility," said Ali Akbar Salehi. More»

Ahmadinejad Ramps Up Iran's Plutonium Production

About-face from last week's willingness to cooperate with UN plan

(AP) - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered his country's atomic agency today to begin the production of higher enriched uranium, in a move that's likely to deepen international skepticism about Iran's real nuclear intentions. On state television, Ahmadinejad said: "God willing, 20% enrichment will start" to meet Iran's needs. The comments fly in the face of what was interpreted to be a major policy shift last week when Ahmadinejad said he was ready to export his country's low-enriched uranium for higher enrichment abroad, saying Iran had "no problem" with the UN's plan. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Iran 6 Months From Nuke-Ready: Report