Diplomats: Iran expands enrichment facility

[Chris]

Diplomats: Iran expands enrichment facility
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
14/05/2010 16:30
Second "cascade" of centrifuges for enriching Uranium to critical 20% level ready to go online.

VIENNA — Iran has set up new equipment that will allow it to boost its efficiency at enriching uranium at higher levels, diplomats said Friday. The move is likely to give the US more leverage with Russia and China in its push for new UN sanctions on Teheran. Iran's clandestine enrichment activities were discovered eight years ago and have expanded since to encompass thousands of centrifuges churning out material enriched to 3.5 percent. But despite three rounds of Security Council sanctions meant to enforce demands of a freeze, Teheran moved to a new level in February, when it set up a small program to produce material enriched to near 20 percent.

Teheran denies any interest in developing nuclear arms and says it needs the higher enriched uranium to supply its research reactor with fuel after a UN-supported deal to provide the material from abroad fell apart. But the move has increased concerns because it brings the Islamic Republic closer to the ability to produce warhead material. Uranium at 3.5 percent, can be used to fuel reactors — which is Iran's avowed purpose for enrichment. If enriched to around 95 percent, however, it can be used in building a nuclear bomb, and at 20 percent, uranium can be turned into weapons-grade material much more quickly than from lower levels.

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[Chris]

I really wonder if anyone is going to do anything about Iran? It is crystal clear they are not going to stop their nuclear program. I wish Israel and the US would just go ahead and deal with the issue. However, I don't think Obama has the guts to do anything. He's just a punk lawyer who bullies people on paper. The longer they put it off the worse it is going to get in regards to Iran.