More evidence of Iran's "fear"
Iran Said to Be Nearing Enrichment of Uranium
nytimes.com
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 1, 2004
Filed at 3:01 p.m. ET
VIENNA, Austria (AP) -- Iran plans to process tons of raw uranium and restart its centrifuges -- two activities that can be used to make nuclear warheads, the U.N. atomic watchdog agency and diplomats said Wednesday.
The United States -- which accuses Tehran of running a weapons program -- said the revelations provided further evidence Iran's nuclear activities pose ``a threat to international peace and security.''
A confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed that Iran planned to process more than 40 tons of uranium into uranium hexafluoride.
Uranium hexafluoride is spun in centrifuges to produce enriched uranium, which in turn can be used to generate power or make nuclear warheads, depending on the degree of enrichment.
A senior diplomat familiar with the agency declined to say how much hexafluoride could be obtained from 40 tons of raw uranium, also known as yellowcake, beyond saying it was a ``substantial amount.''
But former nuclear weapons inspector David Albright, who now heads the Institute for Science and International Security, said it could theoretically yield more than 200 pounds of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium.
``Hypothetically, that's enough to make five crude nuclear weapons,'' he said.
The report, obtained by The Associated Press, was circulated to diplomats ahead of the agency's board meeting, which starts Sept. 13. It did not specify what plans Iran had for the uranium hexafluoride.
But two other diplomats, speaking separately, told AP that Iran had also informed the agency that it planned to introduce a ``substance'' into its 64-cascade centrifuge facility at Natanz as early as next month. Iran appeared to be alluding to uranium hexafluoride, they said.
Uranium hexafluoride is normally put in such centrifuges and spun repeatedly and at varying lengths of time depending on the degree of enrichment sought. Uranium enriched above 90 percent is considered weapons grade.
The senior diplomat said any uranium hexafluoride Iran produces ``could be the feed stock for Natanz.''
The issue of enrichment is extremely sensitive as the international community tries to determine if Iran is using its nuclear program for peaceful purposes only, as Tehran insists, or trying to make weapons.
The United States says Iran is working to produce nuclear weapons, and U.S. officials are spearheading an effort at the Sept. 13 IAEA board of governors meeting to have Tehran declared in violation of its nonproliferation commitments -- a move that could force the U.N. Security Council to take action against Iran.
U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton said the U.N. report bolstered Washington's case and was ``further strong evidence of the compelling need to take Iran's nuclear program to the Security Council.
``The United States will continue to urge other members of the IAEA board of governors to join us in this effort, to deal with the Iranian threat to international peace and security,'' he said in an e-mail to the AP.
Iran agreed to suspend its enrichment program last year in an effort to build international trust. But that commitment eroded over the subsequent months, and in July, Iran confirmed reports that it had resumed building nuclear centrifuges.
That led to increased accusations from the United States and European nations that Iran had reneged on its pledge, something Tehran denied, arguing it was not actually producing enriched uranium, while reserving the right to do so.
With revelations Wednesday of its plans to produce uranium hexafluoride, and the reports by diplomats that it would start up some centrifuges at Natanz, Iran appeared to be moving toward breaching that final threshold as well.
On other issues of concern, the report suggested it was possible that some traces of enriched uranium found inside the country were not domestically manufactured but came in on equipment it bought on the nuclear black market.
Iran says that was the case for most of the traces. But the report stopped short of absolving Tehran on the issue, saying it and related concerns ``continue to be investigated.'' And the senior diplomat said the origins of other traces still need to be established.
The report also said more investigation was needed into Iranian claims that Tehran had not conducted enrichment experiments with its advanced P-2 centrifuge between 1995, when it illicitly bought them, and 2002, when its clandestine activities came to light.
While listing a series of other concerns, the 11-page report credited Iran with providing information and access that allowed IAEA investigators to clarify some issues and make progress on others. But it urged faster and better cooperation.
``In some cases ... the provision of new information has been prompt,'' said the report, written by IAEA Director General Mohamed Elbaradei. ``In other cases, sufficiently detailed information has, despite repeated requests, been provided so late that it has not been possible to include an assessment of its .... correctness.'' |
