U.N. inspectors count 200 new machines at Iran uranium site
Iranian President Mahomoud Ahmidenijad tours a uranium enrichment site.
VIENNA U.N. nuclear inspectors have counted nearly 200 advanced machines fully or partially installed at Iran's main uranium enrichment site, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported Thursday, confirming diplomats' accounts that Tehran has begun a major upgrade of a program that can be used in the making of atomic arms.
Iran denies it wants such weapons and says it is enriching only to make reactor fuel and for scientific and medical purposes under international law specifically allowing such activities. But because it hid its enrichment program - and other nuclear activities - for decades, many countries fear that it ultimately wants to enrich to weapons-grade level, suitable for arming nuclear warheads.
- Diplomats: Iran upgrading nuclear facilities
- Diplomat confirms Iran nuclear upgrade with new, advanced centrifuges
- Iran touts installation of advanced enrichment centrifuges
Iran announced last month that it planned to upgrade its Natanz enrichment facility, then said earlier this month that it had started doing so.
On Wednesday, diplomats told The Associated Press that upward of 100 enriching centrifuges had already been installed.
However, the IAEA report, circulated Thursday to the 35-nation agency board, was the first independent and on-record confirmation that the work had begun and was advancing. The confidential IAEA report, which was leaked to news media, said IAEA inspectors saw 180 of the high-tech IR 2m centrifuges fully or partially mounted at Natanz during a Feb. 6 inspection tour.
Mark Fitzpatrick, an expert on Iran's nuclear program and the director of the nonproliferation and disarmament program at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, told CBSNews.com the new centrifuges "could be a game-changer, depending on how many they introduce."
The introduction of the machines "does suggest that they made a breakthrough, and are moving from the research and development phase to employing them to enrich uranium," Fitzpatrick said. The IR-2M machines can enrich uranium "four to five times faster" than other centrifuges in use at Iran's plants.
The advance is significant both in terms of technology and timing. The IR-2m centrifuges can enrich three to five times faster than the outmoded machines now being used at Natanz. For nations fearing that Iran may want to make nuclear arms that means a quicker way of getting there, should Tehran actually break out of its present peaceful enrichment program to openly work on a weapon.
The start of the upgrade is also of concern to six world powers that are preparing to open talks with Iran about its nuclear program on Tuesday in Kazakhstan. They want Tehran to cut back on enrichment, saying the installation of new machines instead sends the signal that the Islamic Republic is expanding that activity.
Popular on CBSNews.com
- Man dead in "truly shocking" London attack 131 Comments
- Mexican volcano on verge of eruption 15 Photos
- N. Korea sends top envoy to China as tensions mount
- People cling to car in "sidewalk skiing" stunt Play Video
- 12 years post-Taliban, Afghan women's rights under fire
- Costa Concordia captain ordered to stand trial
- Visitors evacuate after suicide at Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral
- Graphic video: Man dead in "truly shocking" London attack Play Video
23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time.
Revelation 16:16
And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
North Korea and Iran are
Really Bill, How is NK obligated when they like Israel refuse to sign the NPT and therefore are the only 4 rogue nations in the world with nukes who won't allow International inspectors. Israel, NK, India, Pakistan. Samey samey genius. ALL NUCLEAR ROGUE STATES.