Iran Nuclear NewsIran pushing for nukes: US

Iran pushing for nukes: US

-

AFP: Iran is defying the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) while engaging in an “unrelenting push toward nuclear weapons capability”, the US said today.
“It should come as no surprise that Iran has defied the board (of the IAEA) once again and announced it is producing uranium hexafluoride, the material for centrifuge enrichment,” said Kurtis Cooper, a State Department spokesman. AFP

Washington – IRAN is defying the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) while engaging in an “unrelenting push toward nuclear weapons capability”, the US said today.

“It should come as no surprise that Iran has defied the board (of the IAEA) once again and announced it is producing uranium hexafluoride, the material for centrifuge enrichment,” said Kurtis Cooper, a State Department spokesman.

“Although Iran has repeatedly asserted that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and its pursuit of uranium enrichment technologies are to fuel a planned civilian power program, Iran will have no peaceful use for enriched uranium for many, many years,” he said.

“The rush to convert 37 tonnes of yellowcake into feed-stock for centrifuge enrichment has no peaceful justification,” the spokesman said.

“Iran has no operating nuclear power plants.

“Iran’s urgent production of feed material for uranium enrichment clearly indicates Iran is continuing its unrelenting push toward nuclear weapons capability,” he said.

“Thirty-seven tonnes of yellowcake is not a test. It is a production run,” Mr Cooper said.

“It is enough uranium hexafluoride to feed a centrifuge enrichment process to produce highly enriched uranium in sufficient quantities for several nuclear weapons.

“Iran knows what it must do to alleviate international concern expressed by the IAEA on behalf of the international community. So far it appears determined to ignore the IAEA and proceed with its nuclear weapons program,” he said.

A senior Iranian official said today that Iran had begun converting a large amount of uranium ore into the gas feedstock needed to enrich uranium, in defiance of a UN call for it to fully suspend the sensitive process that can make material for nuclear weapons.

Iranian atomic energy chief Reza Aghazadeh told reporters in Vienna that some of the 37 tonnes of uranium yellowcake which Iran had previously said it would be converting had now been used.

Yellowcake is converted into uranium gas which is then fed into centrifuges to make enriched uranium.

Enriched uranium can be fuel for civilian reactors, but also the explosive core for atomic bombs.

The IAEA, the UN nuclear watchdog, has urged Iran to “immediately” suspend all parts of the nuclear fuel cycle, including conversion activities.

The agency set a deadline of November 25, when its board of governors will next be meeting, for a definitive review of Iran’s nuclear program.

Latest news

Growing Calls for the Terrorist Designation of the IRGC

On Monday, April 29, the Iranian regime’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, in a weekly press briefing, claimed that...

Iranian Merchants Facing 60% Decline in Sales Due to Presence of Morality Police

Discontent among merchants due to a 60% decrease in sales attributed to the presence of the morality police, exerting...

Dire Living Conditions of Iranian workers on International Labor Day

On the occasion of International Workers' Day, May 1, the dire economic conditions of Iranian workers have reached a...

Only One-Fifth of Iran’s Annual Housing Needs Are Met

Beytollah Setarian, a housing expert, said in an interview that Iran needs one million housing units annually, but only...

Resignation, Job Change, and Nurse Exodus in Iran

The state-run Hame-Mihan newspaper has addressed the problems of the healthcare workforce in Iran, examining issues such as resignations,...

International Monetary Fund: Iran Needs “$121 Oil” to Avoid Budget Deficit

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) states in its latest quarterly report that the Iranian government needs the price of...

Must read

Iranian opposition leader: Nuclear deal does not block path to bomb

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the Iranian Resistance...

Iran opposition group says Tehran building secret nuke tunnels

Iran Focus: London, Dec. 21 – Iran is building...

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you

Exit mobile version