Uranium Enrichment and Nuclear Weaponization in Iran

01.08.2008

Contact: Diana Gregor  +44 20 71 93 85 12   info@realite-eu.org

Uranium Enrichment and Nuclear Weaponization in Iran 

Iran signaled that it is not interested in entertaining more questions about the allegations that it is developing nuclear weapons, shortly after the third-highest ranking US foreign policy official, William Burns, met with Iranian negotiator Said Jalili in Geneva on July 19, 2008. This comes despite Iran’s assurances that it intends to cooperate more with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). [1] Since Iran failed to answer specific questions about its nuclear program, European envoy Javier Solana stated that Iran must provide more definitive answers within two weeks. [2]

The international community is acutely aware of the Iranian threat and has pursued a vigorous line of diplomacy to stop their program. [3] Iran’s enrichment activities are in violation of three UN Security Council Resolutions (1803, 1737, 1810). [4] [5] Iran has ignored these resolutions and called them illegal. [6] Arab and Gulf nations share the international community’s concern about Iran’s nuclear program. [7]

A nuclear Iran is a direct threat to Israel’s security. [8] Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a Holocaust denier, has stated several times that he hopes for the elimination of the state of Israel. [9] If Iran obtains nuclear weapons, it could not only target Israel directly with a nuclear weapon, but could also share nuclear technology with terrorist organizations in the Middle East and Europe, such as Iran-backed Hezbollah. [10] 

The process of building a nuclear bomb and the role of uranium enrichment:

• The first step in the production of uranium is to convert ore to uranium-hexafluoride, a gas that has to be cleaned and filtered to be used. [11] Afterwards, it gets filled into a centrifuge for further treatment.

• Just like many other chemical elements, uranium has several isotopes, which could be described as different “types” of uranium. One of those “types,” U-235 with 92 protons and 143 neutrons, can be used to make a nuclear weapon. It is separated from the most common isotope, U-238, which has 92 protons and 146 neutrons, in the centrifuge, because the isotopes have different masses. This process is called enrichment.

• If there is enough enriched uranium, it can be used to sustain a chain reaction within a nuclear weapon. If enough atomic nuclei of U-235 are close enough together, the whole mass becomes unstable and starts to explode. This mass is called a “critical mass.” A nuclear explosion is usually triggered when two subcritical masses are quickly combined within the bomb.

Indications that Iran is building a nuclear weapon:

• Iran possesses 320 tons of hexafluoride gas, produced in Isfahan in central Iran, 400 km south of Teheran. [12] This is enough gas for almost 100 bombs. [13]

• The converted uranium is officially enriched in Iran. The Iranians say its purpose is for peaceful use in nuclear reactors. [14]

• Uranium (U-235) does not have to be enriched to more than 3.5 % when used for peaceful purposes. [15]

• If the grade of enrichment exceeds 20%, it can be used for bombs. Modern nuclear weapons use uranium which has been enriched up to 90%. [16]

• Iran has refused to answer key questions about its nuclear program with the IAEA. [17]

• Iran claims that there are now 6,000 centrifuges running in Iran to enrich uranium. 3,000 of these may be advanced types and have at least twice the capacity of the originals. [18] [19] The scale of Iran’s centrifuge program indicates that it is intended for the production of weapons, not peaceful technology. [20]

• In September 2007 Iran already possessed more than 100 kg of low-enriched uranium, according to a government press release. [21]

• Iran possesses documents that describe a method to build uranium hemispheres, which can be used for nothing other than the production of an implosion-assembled nuclear weapon. [22]

All of this information leads to strong suspicion that Iran is building a nuclear weapon. The head of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, agrees: “There is concrete suspicion against Iran. I believe that Iran should not be allowed any more [uranium enrichment] for the time being.” [23]                                               

 

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References:

[1] George Jahn “Iran to increase cooperation with IAEA,” July 25, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2008,
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHz-Bz3Pa0Ivga_oNIvTbrBoIN7QD924P3HO0

[2] Kessler, Glenn. “Iran Nuclear Talks End Without Agreement,” Washington Post, July 19, 2008. Retrieved July 28,2008,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/19/AR2008071900540.html

[3] “France warning of war with Iran,” BBC, September 12, 2007. Retrieved July 22,2008,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6997935.stm

[4] Daragahi, Borzou, “Cheney disputes Iran nuclear goal,” March 26, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2008,
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/26/world/fg-cheney26

[5] http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_resolutions08.htm

[6] “Iran brands UN resolution illegal,“ BBC, September 25, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2008,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4279824.stm

[7] Black, Ian, “Arabs fear fallout of nuclear conflict,” July 10, 2008. Retrieved July 22,2008,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/10/middleeast.iran

[8] “Britain's Brown: Iran's Israel threats 'abhorrent',” AP, July 21, 2008, Retrieved July 22,2008,
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isjXePvMzhcBVXxNcJiPkFI2cG4QD9226KGO0

[9] “Iran leader says believes Israel will soon collapse,” Reuters, January 3, 2007, Retrieved July 22,2008,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/03/AR2007010301249_pf.html

[10] Linzer, Dafna, “Iran Rejects Offer For Nuclear Talks “, August 22, 2006. Retrieved July 22,2008,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/21/AR2006082100143.html

[11] Meiritz, Annett, “Ahmadinedschad deckt sich mit 6000 Super-Zentrifugen ein,” Spiegel Online, April 8, 2008, Retrieved July 22, 2008,
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,546036,00.html

[12] Randow, Gero von, and Ladurner, Ulrich. “Die iranische Bombe,” München, 2006, p 34.

[13] Zimmerman, Peter, “Nearer to the Bomb,” International Herald Tribune, July 7, 2008. Retrieved July 21,2008,
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/07/opinion/edzimmer.php

[14] Nuclear Fuel Production Division, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). Retrieved July 22,2008,
http://www.aeoi.org.ir/NewWeb/nfpd.html

[15] Randow, Gero von, and Ladurner, Ulrich. “Die iranische Bombe,” München, 2006, p 37.

[16] ibid.

[17] “IAEA: Iran bleibt Antworten zu Atomprogramm schuldig” Die Presse,Maz 26, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008,
http://diepresse.com/home/politik/aussenpolitik/386271/index.de

[18] Zimmerman, Peter, “Nearer to the Bomb,” International Herald Tribune, July 7, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008,
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/07/opinion/edzimmer.php

[19] Meiritz, Annett, “Ahmadinedschad deckt sich mit 6000 Super-Zentrifugen ein,” Spiegel Online, April 8, 2008, Retrieved July 22, 2008,
 http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,546036,00.html

[20] Zimmerman, Peter, “Nearer to the Bomb,” International Herald Tribune, July 7, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008,
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/07/opinion/edzimmer.php

[21] Streitz, Matthias. “Iran meldet Atom-Durchbruch – schon wieder,” Spiegel Online, September 2, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2008, 
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,503426,00.html

[22] Schroeder, Alwin, „Internationale Atombehörde besorgt über iranisches Atomprogramm“ Retrieved July 22, 2008,
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,555548,00.html

[23] Bednarz, Dieter. „Roadmap gegen die Bombe“ (Interview), Der Spiegel 36/2007, September 3, 2007, p 124. (Original: „Es gibt konkrete Verdachtsmomente gegen Iran. Deswegen bin ich schon der Meinung, dass Iran dieses Recht vorübergehend verwirkt hat...“)