Iran demonstrates it's playing game regarding nukes- again.

[Hayabusa Rider]

No surprise.

Iran announced in advance that it was going to not only continue producing highly enriched uranium just before meeting with the IAEA, but it was accelerating the program. Why do we bother even showing up?

Reuters) - Iran said on Wednesday it had started installing a new generation of machines for enriching uranium, an announcement likely to annoy the West and complicate efforts to resolve a decade-old dispute over its nuclear programme.

It came on the day the U.N. nuclear watchdog began talks in Tehran to try to advance a long-stalled investigation into suspected military dimensions of the programme.

Iran had already told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that it planned to introduce new IR2-m centrifuges to its main enrichment plant near the central town of Natanz - a step that could significantly speed up its accumulation of material that the West fears could be used to develop a nuclear weapon.

"From last month the installation of the new generation of these machines started," Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA).

"We have produced the machines as planned and we are carrying out the installation gradually ... to complete the tests."

One diplomat accredited to the Vienna-based IAEA, which regularly monitors Iranian nuclear sites including the one at Natanz, said he was surprised by the Iranian announcement.

"My understanding until (Abbasi-Davani's statement) was that they hadn't started installation," the envoy said.

Enriched uranium can fuel nuclear power plants, Iran's stated aim, or, if refined to a high degree, provide material for bombs, which the West suspects is Tehran's real purpose - something Iran strenuously denies.

If deployed successfully, new-generation centrifuges could refine uranium several times faster than the model Iran now has.

It was not clear how many of the new centrifuges Iran aimed to install at Natanz, which is designed for tens of thousands; an IAEA note to members implied it could be up to 3,000 or so.

Abbasi-Davani said the new machines were specifically for lower-grade enrichment of uranium to below 5 percent purity.

Interactive timeline link.reuters.com/gad76r

STOCKPILE FEARS

Iran has been enriching some uranium up to a concentration of 20 percent fissile material, only a short step from weapons grade of 90 percent, and it is this stockpile that has prompted Israel and the United States to warn that they will do whatever is necessary to prevent Iran being able to build a bomb.

The major world powers have imposed sanctions to try to press Tehran to give up nuclear activities with a possible military dimension, while Iran wants them to recognise what it sees as its right to refine uranium for peaceful purposes.

The big powers' next talks with Iran are scheduled for February 26, although few expect any movement from Tehran before its presidential election in June.

The announcement of the new centrifuges "could be perceived as an effort prior to any negotiation by Iran to collect as many as bargaining chips as it can", said nuclear proliferation expert Mark Hibbs at the Carnegie Endowment think tank.

"It doesn't necessarily mean they are shutting the door."

The IAEA has been trying for over a year to secure the access that its inspectors say they need to investigate suspicions of nuclear weapons research.

Its immediate priority is to visit the Parchin military base southeast of Tehran, where it suspects explosives tests relevant to nuclear weapons may have taken place, perhaps a decade ago, an accusation Tehran denies.

Iran is ready to come to a "comprehensive agreement" with the IAEA if its nuclear rights were recognised, and this could include a Parchin visit, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

But Abbasi-Davani played this down on Wednesday.

"Currently there is no talk about a visit to Parchin or any other site, " he said, according to the Fars agency.

Iran on Tuesday confirmed a Reuters report that it had begun converting small amounts of its 20-percent enriched uranium into reactor fuel, a move that, if expanded, could slow the growth in its stockpile.

But Abbasi-Davani said on Wednesday that the conversion was only taking place to feed the Tehran Research Reactor.

"This is not aimed at limiting the stockpiles of the 20 percent uranium and will not be," he said, according to Fars.

(Additional reporting by Zahra Hosseinian in Zurich and Fredrik Dahl in Vienna; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Clearly Iran has no interest in doing anything other than aggravating the situation.

President Imadinnerjacket said this past week that he was going to be the first Iranian in space. It's getting near the time we assist, but not in the way he wants.

 

[klinc]

20 percent to 90 percent is far from just a "short step"
If they create a nuke anyways where are they going to test it without the world finding out?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

20 percent to 90 percent is far from just a "short step"
If they create a nuke anyways where are they going to test it without the world finding out?

They don't need 90%.

20% will work, but it's inefficient. I believe it's not that difficult to enrich it further.

 

[klinc]

They don't need 90%.

20% will work, but it's inefficient. I believe it's not that difficult to enrich it further.

I think the question should be why do they have enrichment plants? Only nuclear weapon states have those. You do not need enrichment plants for power. Canada don't have one.

My concern is more the civilian stock of plutonium which is larger than any military stock and growing fast. With about 6kg's of this shit you can build yourself a Nagasaki type A Bomb in your shed

And weapons grade uranium is 90 percent enriched.

 

[Jaskalas]

20 percent to 90 percent is far from just a "short step"
If they create a nuke anyways where are they going to test it without the world finding out?

Who cares if the world finds out? North Korea says it's a-okay.

 

[klinc]

Who cares if the world finds out? North Korea says it's a-okay.

North Korea nuclear bomb testing was so massive that there wasn't a sniff of radiation coming from it. They still trying to reverse engineer microwaves and use tractors as a launcher. Everyone must demand their loans back and they wouldn't be even able to buy a firecracker.

Iran on the other hand are rich loaded with oil and can buy any knowledge and technology needed of Ebay or wherever.

But I think the Israelis always comes out with some cool batshit crazy thing to set back their nuclear program.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Who cares if the world finds out? North Korea says it's a-okay.

They test and credibility of that State goes out the window. They better be able to defend the facilities the day after

 

[Jhhnn]

After a decade of boogeyman raving about Ebil Eye-ray-nyun Nukes, the usual chest-thumping fearmongers still haven't figured it out. If Iran wanted nuclear weapons, they'd already have them.

PS- 20% HEU is utterly impractical for weapons-

http://www.nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq4-1.html#Nfaq4.1.7.1

 

[OBLAMA2009]

they have just as much right to nuclear technology as any other country. when is the u.s. going to stop building nuclear weapons?

 

[EagleKeeper]

they have just as much right to nuclear technology as any other country. when is the u.s. going to stop building nuclear weapons?

Technology is different than weapons.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

the us is a greater danger to civilization than iran at this point. the police state in this country and the u.s.'s extremely aggressive and violent activities in other countries is much scarier than anything iran is doing.

 

[SaurusX]

If only they would unclench their fists, they would find Obama's extended hand of friendship...

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Technology is different than weapons.

even weapons. do you see iran invading countries around the world? do you see iran assassinating foreign citizens in foreign countries with drones? maybe if everyone had nuclear weapons the whole planet would be a safer place

 

[EagleKeeper]

even weapons. do you see iran invading countries around the world? do you see iran assassinating foreign citizens in foreign countries with drones? maybe if everyone had nuclear weapons the whole planet would be a safer place

Dream on.

when people had spears; those with the biggest/strongest spear continued conquest.

When swords came along; the same happened.

same with gunpowder.

all having equality does, is to ensure that one will drive forward for a better capability than the opponent.

Then have a person at the controls ready to utilize that weapon.

From a destructive bomb; to a pin point neutron bomb; able to take out nuke facilities without advance warning.

If equal on the damage level; one goes to a laser beam.

that is just based on the technology that we know of today.

No country wants equality if they can ensure a stronger level of offensive/defense capability.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

nuclear weapons are the only weapons with overkill capability, i think the situation is different. they kept the peace between the us and russia for decades

 

[EagleKeeper]

nuclear weapons are the only weapons with overkill capability, i think the situation is different. they kept the peace between the us and russia for decades

Yet if a country / leadership was confident that the opponents capability would be able to be taken out on an initial strike or that their own country could survive to deliver a second strike; the story would be different.
It is because of the overkill that both the US and Soviets/China have had plus that the US has the advantage in undersea capability that kept that pot from boiling over.

The Soviets had no concerns about their citizens; China also. Both have plenty of territory to utilize if some area get hot. It was the fact that they both knew a first strike would not get everything.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

After a decade of boogeyman raving about Ebil Eye-ray-nyun Nukes, the usual chest-thumping fearmongers still haven't figured it out. If Iran wanted nuclear weapons, they'd already have them.

PS- 20% HEU is utterly impractical for weapons-

http://www.nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq4-1.html#Nfaq4.1.7.1

Well call up the IAEA and tell them they are doing it wrong! I'm sure your professional credentials would impress them mightily.

 

[piasabird]

When Iran does this stuff they are trying to manipulate the rest of the world to playing their game. The big question, is do they dare use a nuclear weapon?

Someone asked do you see Iran invading other countries? The answer is yes. They support a terrorist group called Hezbolah. They use this terrorist group to take over other countries or destabilize their neighbors. Iran has also been engaged in a war with Iraq in the past. So where do all these rockets come from that are fired into Israel? Someone has to pay for them.

 

[klinc]

they have just as much right to nuclear technology as any other country. when is the u.s. going to stop building nuclear weapons?

No they don't. They have signed a agreement not to produce any.

 

[klinc]

After a decade of boogeyman raving about Ebil Eye-ray-nyun Nukes, the usual chest-thumping fearmongers still haven't figured it out. If Iran wanted nuclear weapons, they'd already have them.

PS- 20% HEU is utterly impractical for weapons-

http://www.nuclearweaponarchive.org/Nwfaq/Nfaq4-1.html#Nfaq4.1.7.1

No they don't have them thanks to Israel. Stuxnet and the killing of those scientist have set them back a lot. You do not need enrichment plants to produce power. Only nuclear weapon states have them

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

No they don't have them thanks to Israel. Stuxnet and the killing of those scientist have set them back a lot. You do not need enrichment plants to produce power. Only nuclear weapon states have them

Right on the money. The powers that be are prepared to provide technology that would at once provide any legitimate use for power production and address security issues. What does Iran do? Announce that it's sabotaging talks, but oh yes, we'll talk and talk, and talk, ad infinitum.

Fortunately non-nuclear means exists to eliminate their fortified facilities if that were to become a consideration.

 

[Jaskalas]

The Soviets had no concerns about their citizens; China also. Both have plenty of territory to utilize if some area get hot. It was the fact that they both knew a first strike would not get everything.

This isn't about first strikes getting everything, Russia couldn't do it - Iran certainly couldn't. It's about rational actors. We don't trust religious fanatics.

We don't trust MAD with martyrs.

 

[klinc]

This isn't about first strikes getting everything, Russia couldn't do it - Iran certainly couldn't. It's about rational actors. We don't trust religious fanatics.

We don't trust MAD with martyrs.

Ask any one who is charge of Iran and most will give you the wrong name. Most people think Irans president have all the powers or are in charge of the country. How wrong they are

 

[Jaskalas]

Ask any one who is charge of Iran and most will give you the wrong name. Most people think Irans president have all the powers or are in charge of the country. How wrong they are

I'm curious what difference you think the Ayatollah makes. Granted, he gets less press so I'm less certain with his words on various subjects. I do note that he claims weapons are against Islam. Wouldn't be the first time in history a person lied to get what they want.

 

[sigurros81]

Iran and North Korea are like the Incorruptible and Spidey of the world. Belligerent and ignorant.