What could possibly go wrong? The world is more peaceful than it ever has been, says Barack Obama. And the Iranians say that their nuclear program is peaceful. They wouldn’t lie to us, now, would they? And anyway, to strike against them would be to enable the Islamic State. To aid them, on the other hand, would be aiding those who chant “Death to America.” Quite a world Barack Obama has brought into being.
“Iran says tested new nuclear enrichment machine, may irk West,” by Michelle Moghtader and Fredrik Dahl, Reuters, August 27, 2014:
(Reuters) – Iran has conducted “mechanical” tests on a new, advanced machine to refine uranium, a senior official was quoted as saying on Wednesday, a disclosure that may annoy Western states pushing Tehran to scale back its nuclear programme.
Iran’s development of new centrifuges to replace its current breakdown-prone model is watched closely by Western officials. It could allow the Islamic Republic to amass potential atomic bomb material much faster.
Tehran says its nuclear programme is peaceful and that it produces low-enriched uranium only to make fuel for a planned network of atomic energy plants. If processed to a high fissile concentration, uranium can be used for nuclear weapons.
“Manufacturing and production of new centrifuges is our right,” Iranian atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi said.
Iran’s Fars news agency also quoted him as saying that Iran had tested its latest generation of centrifuge, the IR-8, but had not yet fed it with uranium gas.
U.N. nuclear agency reports this year showed Iran testing four other models under development at an above-ground Natanz nuclear site – IR-2m, IR-4, IR-6 and IR-6s – with such gas.
Iran had informed the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency in December that it planned to install a single IR-8. The IAEA said in May that it had observed a new “casing” at the site, but that it was not yet connected.
An interim accord struck late last year in Geneva between Iran and six world powers – designed to buy time for talks on a final nuclear deal – stipulated that Iran could not go beyond the centrifuge research and development it has been conducting at the Natanz site, including testing of new models.
It was one of the thorniest issues to settle in technical talks on how to implement the preliminary deal.
In a comment that Western officials may dispute, Salehi said that “based on the Geneva agreement, research and development have no limit”, Fars reported.
“VERY TOUGH TOPIC”
Salehi said Iran had “introduced” the IR-8 centrifuge to the IAEA. “Mechanical tests have been done but gas has yet to be injected,” Salehi said. That would require President Hassan Rouhani’s permission.
The comments reported by Fars did not make clear when the tests were carried out. The IAEA, which regularly inspects Iran’s nuclear facilities, is expected to issue a quarterly report on the country’s nuclear programme around Sept. 3.
In a separate monthly update on Aug. 20 about the implementation of the Geneva accord, it did not suggest any new centrifuge development activities, only saying that Iran had “continued its safeguarded enrichment R&D practices”.
The negotiations between Iran and the United States, France, Germany, China, Britain and Russia – aimed at ending a decade-old dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme – were extended in July until Nov. 24 in view of persistent wide differences….
Beagle says
Iran races head to breakout capability. Saudi Arabia will get a ‘package’ from Pakistan and China soon in response. Then we all get to see the very interesting dynamic of the most Shia state versus the most Sunnis state, both believing as they do in jihad martyrdom, facing off in a potential Mutual Assured Destruction scenario.
General “Buck” Turgidson:
Mr. President, I’m not saying we wouldn’t get our hair mussed. But I do say no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh, depending on the breaks.
Anon says
“The world is more peaceful than it ever has been, says Barack Obama.”
Obama, Pretender In Chief.
Wakinwest says
tic, tic, tic….seconds till midnight
In essence, they have all the ingredients needed but since technically nothing is assembled, they like to pretend they do not quite have the “bomb”. Our negotiators must be insane!
They have not only crossed the famous red line but have settled in comfortably, protected by tons of concrete and obama’s treaty. Our derelict commander and chief defender of islam catastrophically has failed to impede the jihadist regime of iran. An abysmal failure for certain to haunt us and future generations for perpetuity.
The famous red line has been crossed quite some time ago while
Dave J says
Everyone keeps uselessly talking as the centrifuges keep spinning.
Many nations have acquired the bomb but not used it (yet).
Islam has the bloodlust to be the first to unleash this as a terrorist weapon.
Mass killing counts as brownie points to heaven in their warped alternate universe.
Don McKellar says
They did such a good job puppet mastering with their flunky stooge PM in Iraq and look how well things turned out there! Yes, no doubt when their first “test” will be on ISIS. Then, when proven, their next target is Tel Aviv. Talk about small condolences — thanking the raging mad dog Sunni ISIS for taking the test bullet first!
THANK YOU, OBAMA.
CogitoErgoSum says
Dear Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Rouhani. Why are you two still in leadership positions in Iran? Do you not know you should be following the example set by Muhammad, the one you regard as the most perfect human being to have ever lived? Muhammad had completed his mission on Earth by the age of 63 and the both of you are now well past that mark. Your missions in life should have been accomplished years ago. Why do you think you should be granted more time than Muhammad himself was granted to complete his mission? In fact, by the age of 63, Muhammad was dead. So why are you two still living? Just whom are you trying to emulate ……. Issa, the one who lives even to this day? No, if you wish to emulate your perfect example, Muhammad, I suggest you both ingest poison immediately and throw yourself upon the mercy of Allah. A slow acting poison would be more in keeping with Muhammad’s example but since you both have been dilatory and are now well past Muhammad’s age at the time of his death, something quicker would be allowable. Perhaps large doses of recently processed U-235 would accomplish the goal. Allahu akbar … or whatever. My best regards ……… and may peace be upon you both.
ChangeIranNow says
The Supreme Leader Khamenei’s remarks on July 7 which all but sealed the death of these talks with his insistence that Iran would never give up its refining capacity. It’s the one issue that all the Western nations are united lock step in and until Iran yields on this key issue, any extension in talks is simply a face saving measure for both sides and a complete and utter waste of everyone’s time.