U.N.: Iran Readies Batch of Uranium for Enrichment

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U.N.: Iran Readies Batch of Uranium for Enrichment


VIENNA (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Wednesday Iran planned to convert a large amount of raw "yellowcake" uranium into uranium hexafluoride, which one nuclear expert said would be enough to build five atomic bombs.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in the confidential report circulated to diplomats and obtained by Reuters that Iran planned a "larger test" of a uranium conversion facility "involving 37 tons of yellowcake."

David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector and currently president of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said this could theoretically result in 100 kg of weapons-grade highly-enriched uranium.

Speaking purely hypothetically, Albright said: "It's roughly enough for about five crude nuclear weapons of the type Iran could conceivably build."

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=6125810




And this was an earlier story

U.N.: No Clear Arms Evidence on Iran Nuclear Program




WASHINGTON (Reuters) - United Nations inspectors have found no clear evidence of a nuclear arms program in Iran, according to an upcoming report by the International Atomic Energy Agency cited on Wednesday in The Washington Post.
The U.N. agency investigated some U.S. intelligence tips about Iran's alleged nuclear weapons, but turned up nothing conclusive, the Post said, citing unidentified diplomats who have been briefed on the report.

The report could be made public as early as Wednesday.

However, the report said questions remain about Tehran's activities and several tips have not been fully explored, the newspaper said. The report also will note improved cooperation from the Iranians in recent months.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml ;jsessionid=ETZJIS0LURYX0CRBAEKSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=6124790

[emad]

1. Dupe. See:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x792784