Today: September 6, 2010

 

Nuclear Iran

Posted: Fri 28th August 2009 8.18 AM  | Author: David Soakell

For the first time in three years, the number of centrifuges enriching uranium at Iran's Natanz facility has not been increased, Reuters reported on Tuesday. The diplomats said the number of centrifuges had not been expanded since the end of May, following steady growth over the previous three years. 

The reason for the slowdown was unclear. According to the last International Atomic Energy Agency report on Iran, nearly 5,000 centrifuges were processing uranium gas as of 31st May, while more than 2,000 others were ready for operation. Nearly 3,000 pounds - 1,300 kilograms - of low enriched uranium had been produced as of that date, said the more than four-page report. That compared to just over 1,000 kg. mentioned in the previous IAEA report in February, an amount that experts and US officials said was sufficient for the production of enough high enriched uranium for a nuclear warhead. 

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