Iran Wants to Change Uranium Deal

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»

First time Iran has made claim

(NEWSER) - Iran claims to have made nuclear fuel pellets of uranium oxide, a major step in its quest to fuel a heavy water reactor, the AP reports. It also claims to be making pellets for light water reactors, like the one Russia is helping it build on the Persian Gulf coast—a move the US and its allies oppose because it could lead to nuclear weapons. More»

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»

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»

(NEWSER) - The US will tell Iran next week that it must open all its nuclear sites for inspection within 3 months, turn over any related documents, and make scientists available for questions. Tehran also may be ordered to allow inspectors into its newly revealed uranium-enrichment plant within days. The revelation of that site is giving US officials an aggressive new stance ahead of Thursday's big meeting between Tehran and Western powers, notes the New York Times. More»