Iran Ramps Up Uranium Enrichment

Announces Huge Enrichment Expansion In Defiance Of U.N. Demands

(CBS/AP)  Iran announced a dramatic expansion of uranium enrichment on Monday, saying it has begun operating 3,000 centrifuges — nearly 10 times the previously known number — in defiance of U.N. demands it halt the program or face increased sanctions.

U.S. experts say 3,000 centrifuges are in theory enough to produce a nuclear weapon, perhaps as soon as within a year. But they doubted Iran really had so many up and running, a difficult technical feat given the country's spotty success with a much smaller number.

Instead, the announcement may aim to increase support at home amid growing criticism of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and to boost Iran's hand with the West by presenting its program as established, said Michael Levi, a nonproliferation expert at the Washington-based Council on Foreign Relations.

"From a political perspective, it's more important to have (3,000 centrifuges) in place than to have them run properly," Levi told The Associated Press. "We have an unfortunate habit to take Iran at its word when they make scary announcements."

The White House and Europe criticized the announcement. "Iran continues to defy the international community and further isolate itself by expanding its nuclear program, rather than suspending uranium enrichment," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council.

Iran is known to have had 328 centrifuges operating at its Natanz enrichment facility in central Iran. For months, it has been saying it plans to launch an expanded program of 3,000 devices, likely to be set up in a large underground area at Natanz to protect them from air strikes.

"I declare that as of today our dear country has joined the nuclear club of nations and can produce nuclear fuel on an industrial scale," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to a ceremony at Natanz marking the one-year anniversary of the first successful enrichment of uranium there.

His comments suggested Iran was able to produce enough enriched uranium to consistently fuel a nuclear reactor, but he did not announce the start of the 3,000 centrifuges.

"Iran's increase in centrifuges is ahead of its planned May target, but the announcement itself was expected and had been postponed during the captivity crisis," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk.

Asked by reporters at the ceremony if Iran has begun injecting uranium gas into 3,000 centrifuges for enrichment, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani replied, "Yes." He did not elaborate if all were working.

Later in the day, Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh told Iranian state television that the installation of the 3,000 centrifuges was not the end of the project.

"It's completely the reverse," he said. "This trend of installing machines will permanently continue until 50,000 centrifuges have been installed."

[breceivemail]

We cocked a snook at USA and its watchdog called Security Council.

[breceivemail]

We cocked a snook at USA and its watchdog called Security Council.

[breceivemail]

We cocked a snook at USA and its watchdog called Security Council.

[breceivemail]

We cocked a snook at USA and its watchdog called Security Council.

[breceivemail]

We cocked a snook at USA and its watchdog called Security Council.

[tbweb]

If Russia and China don't care if Iran has nuclear weapons then the U.S. should not care either. Since Iran does not have missiles that can reach the U.S., the U.S. should not worry about it! Iran can pass nuclear bombs off to terrorist but the U.S. has the technology to detect radiation. I would call Russia and China's bluff because I know Russia and China does not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon, but wants the U.S. to stick its neck out alone taking action against it! Let Russia and China ramp up the pressure on Iran to stop uranium enrichment and if they need the U.S. to help the U.S. will be all too willing to assist!

[zoroastor]

Iran used to have to worry about and deal with their enemy Iraq. Not anymore.

[notblue]

Since when did Russia and China care about the U.S.??? Iran is rogue militant radical government that it's nuclear program has NOTHING to do with electricity. All the do nothing lefties will wish in hindsight that Iran could have been prevented from developing these weapons when a militant group uses them in the name of there holy Jihad. Blaming the U.S., enabling the radicals, and the potential for unprecedented loss of lives could be the result of this complacency. Sadly, that's probably the only scenario that will wake up half this country to a threat that the left considers "fear mongering".

[tuckerndfw]

Memo to Iran:

Hurry. The US & UK do not attack nations with nuclear weapons.

Developing nukes is your only hope for survival. Or, to avoid being repeatedly attacked by the US, UK and/or Israel. They only attack people who cannot defend themselves.

Iran has as much right to develop nukes as anyone else, including Israel, the US or UK.

[tuckerndfw]

"Saddam Hussein is developing nuclear weapons with which to destroy the US."

"Saddam Hussein has nuclear weapons with which he is going to destroy the US tomorrow!!!"

"HE'S A MADMAN WITH A NUKE!!! YOU PEOPLE GO TO WAR!!!!"

Zionist propaganda is worthless and based on fear mongering and terrorism.

Zionists are a far greater menace to the US and world generally than any other group.


NOTE to the ignorant: The vast majority of Zionists are American Christians, including the vast majority of elected officials, public figures and tv preachers.

[tuckerndfw]

When Zionists say "we," they mean "you" or "anyone but me."

They typically do not fight in or pay for the wars they incite.

[pwrslm]

Russian and China's victory over the US will come by them arming our enemies.

How fast we forget, how litte this generation of vipers look to the past to see the light.

Russia and China have been arming muslims for years, knowing that those weapons will eventually serve thier cause.

[one_american]

If Iran had any good intentions at all with it's nuclear program, it would have no problem with allowing full and open inspections by the IAEA.

But the fact that they are so belligerent with pushing their program, and refuse inspections, leads to suspicion, and rightly so.

It's time for full sanctions, and a trade blockade against Iran.

[tuckerndfw]

"We need to stop the Godless communist menace in Southeast Asia before it reaches the US."

Zionist propaganda leading up to and supporting the Vietnam fiasco.

Zionists hate communists and Muslims and are willing to send anyone (other than himself or loved ones) to an early death to prove it. And, spend everyone else's last dollars to prove it.

Zionists are a far greater menace that communists or radical Muslims.

[tbweb]

Since when did Russia and China care about the U.S.???

Posted by notblue at 11:02 AM : Apr 09, 2007

--notblue

Its not about Russia and China caring about the U.S., its about Russia and China caring about themselves and having an unpredictable, erratic Iran with nuclear weapons near by. Iran is closer to them than to the U.S. and if Iran gives nukes to the Chechens or Tibet, China and Russia will only have themselves to blame for not seeing the big picture!

[sevenveils]

Isn't cute! Students holding hand chanting well learned verses of death to America and Brittan.

No hatred or ill will there, no sir, just fun loving flag burning students following the peaceful gospel of Islam as taught to them by the theocratic leaders of their nation.

[tbweb]

Russian and China's victory over the US will come by them arming our enemies.

How fast we forget, how litte this generation of vipers look to the past to see the light.

Russia and China have been arming muslims for years, knowing that those weapons will eventually serve thier cause.
Posted by pwrslm at 11:44 AM : Apr 09, 2007

--pwrslm

The U.S. can easily put and end to all this nonsense by turning off the FOOD! Stop feeding the World for 90 days and everyone will calm down and come to their senses. Its our food likes its their oil, we can charge what we want and don't even have to sell it at all.

[djberson]

Tucker, you are sick. SICK! Go get help.

[colonieny]

Who are we to judge ?

When the Arabs burned down the YMCAs in the West Bank, after HAMAs took over, did anyone cry out that it was not fair ? Yes, Pres. Carter. And he is going to be having a peace vigil in August by the rubble in silent prayer. What a man of peace ! The YMCAs are outlawed by Islamic law, Carter will be there to protest that, call the Carter Center to support his efforts !

[radiob-2009]

Some sick people


Aryan Nations National Director August Kreis writes (www.aryan-nations.org), "We as an organization will also endeavor to aid all those who subvert, disrupt and are (sic) malignant in nature to our enemies. Therefore I offer my most sincere best-wishes to those who wage holy Jihad against the infrastructure of the decadent, weak and Judaic-influenced societal infrastructure of the West. I send a message of thanks and well-wishes to the methods and works of groups on the Islamic front against the jew such as Al-Qaeda and Sheik Usama Bin Ladin, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and to all Jihadis worldwide who fight for the glory of the Khilafah and the downfall of the anti-life and anti-freedom System prevalent on this earth today.

Kreis continues by saying (sic), " I ask our Islamic fellow fighters against jewry to remember the co-operation between Mufti Haj Mohammad Amin al-Husseini and Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler during the last century and to remember that all that is of the past it is our duty to surpass!"

[tuckerndfw]

Tucker, you are sick. SICK! Go get help.

Posted by djberson at 12:25 PM : Apr 09, 2007

That is a possibility but does not alter the fact Zionists and their hysterical propaganda (lies) have led to at least two unnecessary wars in the past fifty years.

Neither Communists nor Muslims pose any unique threat to the US, as a group, but that does not stop Zionists from screeching their lies anytime they get the chance.

"HE'S A MADMAN WITH A NUKE!!!" may have worked the first time with the lies about Saddam Hussein, but anyone who believes that b.x. about Iran is a total imbecile.

But, if that doesn't work, Zionists can always claim Iranians are Godless communists, I suppose. Maybe the younger generation won't be aware of those hysterical rants we heard from the Zionist community before and during Vietnam.

Zionists are the most serious menace facing the world today, especially in the US & UK.

[diplomacy3]

In my own view over the past one decade western incessant pressure and threats have precipitated Iran to acquire the nuclear technology. The sanctions and the invasion of Iraq have helped Iran acquire the technology at a much faster pace than it probably intended or needed. The current situation is at such a stage that had we not been engaged in Iraq, Iran could have been taken care of. The faster military sweep in Iraq result in more casualties drawing us from focusing on Iran coupled with enormous pressure at home for troops withdrawal. This is a situation where we see today a defiant Iran reaching a stage of no-return on nuclear issue, drawing sympathies from the Muslim world to be the next US target. The labyrinth of options US has at its disposal are not only the difficult ones but could be self-inflicted too. All could have a devastating impact on global oil market.

[acauble1]

Whatever you're paying for gas now.... be thankful!

Because if the tensions get higher with Iran, or worse - a military conflict arises...

whatever we are paying for gas now, will be referred to as "the good 'ol days"!

[hypnotoad72]

tbweb - if only it was that simple, to shut off all the exports and such. It would remind the world that we are not as unimportant as we're said to be...?

pwrslm - Maybe it's meant for China and Russia to win? And is really a game? The US' corporate interests have been helping them for decades. Which puts into question, are China and Russia really our enemies? I'm not so sure.

[acauble1]

...are China and Russia really our enemies? I'm not so sure.
Posted by HypnoToad72 at 01:08 PM : Apr 09, 2007

I'm not so sure either. All I know is that China owns us, (the majority of our debt at least). China can easily get us to succumb to it's demands by threatening to pull the plug on their investments of our debt. The U.S. economy would crash so hard, it would make the 'Great Depression' seem like a minor inconvenience!

But in reality, what this country needs is a President and an administration that focusses on dialogue and not rhetoric! (In other words, no more 'cowboy' diplomacy).

[lars008-2009]

Brigitte Gabriel
War has been declared on Christians, Jews, non-Muslims and secularists worldwide by Islamic extremists...simply because we are infidels according to their belief. As Islamic fundamentalism spreads its tentacles worldwide, it is crucial for the people of the Western world to understand the danger, know what to expect, and know what to do about it.

Threats and realities of forced conversions to Islam, beheadings, torture and murder are quickly becoming commonplace. They%u2019re rarely mentioned in the news and when they are, it%u2019s with a disclaimer%u2026the word %u201Cinsurgent%u201D has replaced the truth of %u201Cterrorists.%u201D
http://www.americancongressfortruth.com/
Christian Persecution
http://www.americancongressfortruth.com/media1/Christian_Persecution2.wmv
Brigitte Gabriel explodes Mideast 'lies'
Israeli Arab explodes Mideast 'lies'
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43175

[thgdriver]

Bottom line: Japan $644.3 billion, China $349.6
Posted by badaxmofo

Ink up the money press or better yet write them a check. (rubber of course).

[thgdriver]

If Japan and or China called in our note to them, we would be in ruin.

But then again, who would buy all that junk if we don't??

Ruin all around. that's why they won't do it.

[lars008-2009]

If Japan and or China called in our note to them, we would be in ruin.

But then again, who would buy all that junk if we don't??

Ruin all around. that's why they won't do it.
Posted by thgdriver at 02:02 PM : Apr 09, 2007

which is why we converted china to capitalism... hahahahahahahahahaha

[zoltaric]

"In Tehran, some 200 students formed a human chain at Iran's Atomic Energy Organization while chanting "death to America" and "death to Britain." The students burnt flags of the U.S. and Britain."


You want this country to have a nulear bomb?

[acauble1]

USA bond yields 4-6%

Do the math? Which is more 1-2% or 4-6%?

Posted by badaxmofo at 02:05 PM : Apr 09, 2007

USA bond yields 4 to 6% FOR NOW!

A continuing war in Iraq and continuing spending at the federal level will cause higher deficits and eventually lower the bond yields. Thus making the U.S. treasury bonds less and less attractive!

Just wait until the Social Security and Medicare liabilities begin to explode with the retiring baby boomers (within the next 5 to 10 years). Our treasury bonds would be worth toilet paper! (used)

[inventagod]

'"In Tehran, some 200 students formed a human chain at Iran's Atomic Energy Organization while chanting "death to America" and "death to Britain." The students burnt flags of the U.S. and Britain."
You want this country to have a nulear bomb?
Posted by zoltaric at 02:30 PM : Apr 09, 2007'

You think the US really has the authority to deny any democracy nuclear power? We have dangerous people right here, and we have the most bombs... Do you feel safe here?

From California:
'The tide of anti-war sentiment also was met by counterdemonstrations, most comprising no more than a handful of people, defending the Bush administration and U.S. soldiers.
"Now, at a time of war, these people out here protesting are behaving like traitors,'' said Russian immigrant Alexander Gosen. He spent the morning at Franklin and Fell streets waving a sign reading "Viva Bush'' on one side and "Go to hell, peaceniks'' on the other. "They should all be arrested. They don't know what it's like to live under a tyrant.''

[acauble1]

You want this country to have a nulear bomb?
Posted by zoltaric at 02:30 PM : Apr 09, 2007

No, just like I wouldn't have preferred Pakistan or China to have nuclear weapons, but sadly they do.

It's hard to keep a country from getting 'the bomb'. The only thing to keep them from using it, is the deterrence other countries have in the form of hundreds, if not thousands of nuclear warheads that can rain down on whatever fledgeling nuclear country in question.

I would prefer that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon, but the pre-emptive strike options are far more dangerous to the world than taking a more reactionary approach. I mean 'reactionary' by the use of our own nuclear arsenal as a deterrent and as a response (worst case) if needed.

[djberson]

Fair or not, I know I dont want Iran to have the same weaponry we do. Iran is scary, dont you get it? Somebody has to be making the rules, and it is better the USA then any country in the Middle-East. Period. Iran is malicious, dangerous to others sharing the planet, and good for nothing!

[sjc_1]

This makes no sense. Iran is sitting on a huge supply of natural gas that could power their country for decades. As far as I know, they do not have a huge supply of uranium. If anyone believes that they are just doing this for peaceful purposes, I have some swamp land in Florida I would like to sell you.

[junogoose]

-----------------
Seems far fetched right? Remember the Cuban Missile Crisis? Soon we may have the Venezuelan Missile Crisis...or we can NIP IT IN THE BUD now!
Posted by badaxmofo at 01:49 PM : Apr 09, 2007
-----------------

Ok. You're hereby delegated to round up the troops.

[randalds]

This makes no sense. Iran is sitting on a huge supply of natural gas that could power their country for decades. As far as I know, they do not have a huge supply of uranium. If anyone believes that they are just doing this for peaceful purposes, I have some swamp land in Florida I would like to sell you.
Posted by sjc_1 at 02:59 PM : Apr 09, 2007

Simple, fossil fuels are finite. They'll run out, probably sooner then later and then what will they do for energy? When the fossil fuels do run if they don't have alternatives in place then people would condemn them for not being prepared. Also it's much much much more profitable for Iran to sell it's oil on the world market then to use it for themselves. It's a solid business decision that any other nation, including the US, would make. It's not suspisous that they would be developing nuclear power. Any other nation would in thier position.

[randalds]

This makes no sense. Iran is sitting on a huge supply of natural gas that could power their country for decades. As far as I know, they do not have a huge supply of uranium. If anyone believes that they are just doing this for peaceful purposes, I have some swamp land in Florida I would like to sell you.
Posted by sjc_1 at 02:59 PM : Apr 09, 2007

It's also sort of like what US oil companies do. They kicked and screamed that we haven't developed enough domestic oil to help us break our dependence on foreign oil, so we allowed them to drill in northern Alaska. They found the oil and are pumping it out, but are not using it in the US after all. They're selling it to China because they make more money doing that then refining it and selling it in the US. In other words their *** us out of our own oil. And they wonder why we won't let them drill up there more (something big oil fan Bush is pushing using the same lie that it's to help us). Why let them screw up Alaska's environment more just to sell the oil to China? If we put a regulation in place that says they MUST use the oil in the US only then they're not interested in drilling there at all because they won't make as much money.

[randalds]

Bush gets on TV and foams at the mouth about how Iran plans on using this nuclear fuel for warheads and not for peaceful energy. Yet this is the same Bush who lied about WMD's, lied about an Iraq connection to 9-11, lied about wanting to "spread democracy" and even the things he hasn't lied about (the very few things) he's been wrong about and/or fu*cked up! His credibility on the color of the sky would be questioned! This is a man no one trusts any more to do something as simple as state the day of the week! Every single thing he's said to us in the past has either been wrong or a lie! Do not make the mistake of ever believing this buffoon ever again!

[fascistusa]

When are The American Elite and Israel/AIPAC going to Invade Iran??

Our News is just Government Propaganda. Nothing more. We wouldn't hear about Iran if The Fascist Government didn't want to Invade so bad.

[diplomacy3]

Given the Russian and Chinese involvement in Iran and their lukewarm support to recent UN sanctions, it is very clear that its economic cooperation is more important to these countries than a nuclear Iran. They don't regard Iran as a nuclear threat in the future. While we are engaged militarily, Russia has played a significantly important role in the energy market. Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar and other Gulf States are forming a Gas Cartel. It would bring a big change in the global energy market. The IPI-gas(Iran-Pakistan-India) pipeline is another landmark in that direction.

We are at the cross-roads, having missed the opportunity to capture the energy market or at least to have some kind of longstanding cooperation with the oil-producing countries that are now turning to Russia and China because of the situation in Iraq. Use of military force would not change the fundamentals of the unfolding realities in the Middle East.

[musty2u]

They can keep it up; however, the crying will really start when they step over the line. Our country will be in a heyday given the opportunity to wax the livin clap out of them. Not only that the liberals will have a reason to take to the streets. Just gotta love it. just gotta.

[lars008-2009]

Just as some additional background, Patrick Clawson and I included the narrative of the Jewish and Christian minorities in our recently published Eternal Iran (NRO Q&A here) . The Iranian people are far more tolerant than their leadership, but it is unfortunate that Ahmadinejad could cite ample precedent if he so desired: The Nazi practice of forcing Jews to wear a yellow star had its origins in what is now Iran and Iraq when a ninth century caliph forced his Jewish subjects to wear yellow patches. From time to time, subsequent rulers revived the practice. Shiite clerics long deemed any food touched by Jews to be unclean. While blood libel only took root in Iranian society after the sixteenth-century arrival of European ambassadors, as Iranian society wrestled with modernity, violent anti-Semitism grew. Pogroms wiped out the Jewish community in some towns and villages in Iranian Azerbaijan in the mid-nineteenth century, and serious pogroms also swept through Mashhad, a Shiite shrine city in northeastern Iran in which the current supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was born and raised. It was also in Mashhad that, despite the oft-cited mantra that there is no compulsion in Islam, Shiite clerics forcibly converted the remaining Jews to Islam under threat of death.

[lars008-2009]

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini made anti-Semitic conspiracies a frequent theme of his speeches. A great resource is Habib Levy's Comprehensive History of the Jews of Iran, available from a specialty Iranian studies publisher translated from the original Persian. With regard to the Christians, there have been many periods of oppression. Iranian governments sometimes looked at the Armenian Christian community as a fifth column and, in recent years, vigilante groups have assassinated evangelical Christians-there is some mention of this in recent State Department human rights reports. The Baha'i community is perhaps the most vulnerable and, of course, while there are functioning churches and synagogues in Tehran and Isfahan, the ruling authorities will not tolerate Sunni mosques in Tehran, a city of perhaps 14 million people.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MDU4NDdhYjE3ODQwZGVhYWIyOGNjYjkzYWQ0MjA4ZjA=

[randalds]

They can keep it up; however, the crying will really start when they step over the line. Our country will be in a heyday given the opportunity to wax the livin clap out of them. Not only that the liberals will have a reason to take to the streets. Just gotta love it. just gotta.
Posted by Musty2U at 04:18 PM : Apr 09, 2007

Not going to happen. Our troops are stretched beyond the breaking point in Iraq now, thanks to Bush, so there is no way to move any significant number of troops into Iran without them being slaughtered. The only way to "wax" them would be to use battlefield nuclear weapons and that would bring condemnation from every other nation on the earth, including all of our allies. Also it would bring Russia and China in on Iran's said and lets not forget that they have much bigger (and unoccupied) armies then we do and nuclear weapons of their on. It's diplomacy or nothing. We can NOT stand alone against the entire world.

[musty2u]

Troops might not be needed. We still possess 1000 100kt W70-3 packages. The line which brings those to play will open eyes beyond all imagination.

[diplomacy3]

I think there is no need to mention that we have been engaged militarily in Iraq for the past 4 years, a country far weaker than Iran. There is no regular Iraqi army that we are confronted with.
We need to embrace realities.
Are we left with the only option of military force and have all others options dried up?

[lars008-2009]

Posted by diplomacy3 at 05:05 PM : Apr 09, 2007

hmmmm iraq fought them to a standstill in the 80's.....

the usa military is more than capable of doing to iran what it did to iraq and pull Mahmoud Ahmadinejad out of his spider hole as well as the supreme leader hahahaha

[randalds]

Troops might not be needed. We still possess 1000 100kt W70-3 packages. The line which brings those to play will open eyes beyond all imagination.
Posted by Musty2U at 04:54 PM : Apr 09, 2007

And as I said that would bring down the condemnation of the entire world, including our own allies, if we are stupid enough to use the first nuclear weapons in war since WWII. Also Russia is going to be much less then thrilled at having nuclear explosions (of any size) that close to their southern borders. It would be the same as them exploding them in Costa Rica. We would take military issue with that. Then there's China who gets nearly 40% of their oil from Iran. They'll go batsh*it too just like the Russians. The US can NOT stand alone against the world and if we use any kind of nuclear weapons, even battlefield ones, we'll be in just that position.

[joehawkinson]

LARS008 and other neocon puppets

Why do you only show up and post comments on things about Iran, Islam or Arabs in general but you are nowhere to be found on other neocon hot topics such as gay marriage, abortion etc? If you are really born again Christians as you imply why does not those topics bother you a bit but you are all over anything about Middle East.? It is just too coencidental is not it? itchy thoughts I guess.

I wonder if you are posting from the holy land my "Christian" brethren ! let me know will you.