NATANZ, Iran, April 9, 2007
Iran Ramps Up Uranium Enrichment
Announces Huge Enrichment Expansion In Defiance Of U.N. Demands
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Play CBS Video Video Iran Expanding Nuclear Program Despite U.N. demands, Iran has announced an expansion of its nuclear program. CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pam Falk discusses the ramifications of the announcement.
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Iran currently has two cascades of 164 centrifuges each operating at an aboveground portion of the Natanz facility, pictured, in central Iran. The two cascades have produced small quantities of non-weapons grade enriched uranium, U.N. nuclear inspectors have said. (Getty Images/Henghameh Fahimi)
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Timeline Iran Nuclear Chronology Events in development of Iran's nuclear program since it first came to light.
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Interactive Nuclear Armed World The world's nuclear weapons powers, missile defense and a history of the nuclear weapons age.
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."
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- "Iran poses no credible, unique threat to the Middle East or the world at large. With or without nukes, or Ahmadinejab."
"I offered the statement of fact that Ahmadinejab's claim that he wants to "wipe Israel off the map" is only referring to his desire for Israel to be decertified as a state (wiped off the map). Which would literally "wipe Israel off the map."
Posted by tuckerndfw at 04:58 PM : Apr 10, 2007
This is where you and I agree to disagree. Ahmadinejab may or may not want Jews eradicated but his bosses (the Clerics of Islam) do. It is my firm belief that Al Qaeda is after a nuclear bomb, (the more the better) and 'will' use them to attempt to destroy the Israel/Western society from the face of the Earth with the aim to replace it with their own brand of intolerance. It is their intention to force their conception of "Armegeddon" in other words force their God to step in and 'Annihilate'all non-muslim peoples. - Reply to this comment
- John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
this one best fits muhammad and islam
Matthew 7:15 (Whole Chapter)
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 24:11 (Whole Chapter)
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:24 (Whole Chapter)
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mark 13:22 (Whole Chapter)
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Luke 6:26 (Whole Chapter)
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Acts 13:6 (Whole Chapter)
And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
2 Peter 2:1 (Whole Chapter)
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
1 John 4:1 (Whole Chapter)
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. - Reply to this comment
- The topic of this board is not Zionism, Israel, Christians, Jesus or anything related to the bible.
The topic is the alleged threat Iran poses to the world, specifically the Middle East.
On that basis, I offered the statement of fact that Ahmadinejab's claim that he wants to "wipe Israel off the map" is only referring to his desire for Israel to be decertified as a state (wiped off the map). Which would literally "wipe Israel off the map."
Ahmadinejab has never threatened Jews and poses no threat to Jews. Comparing him to Adolf Hitler is hysterical propanganda because Hitler was a Zionist and supported Israel.
Zionism is a subversive ideology to any nation other than Israel. Zionism relies primarily, if not exclusively, on lies and ignorance.
As demonstrated by the current lies being told about Ahmadinejab.
Iran poses no credible, unique threat to the Middle East or the world at large. With or without nukes, or Ahmadinejab. - Reply to this comment
- Since even the Romans acknowledge the existance of Jesus over 2000 years ago and Islam only goes back to mohammad 1400 years ago I prefer to go with the 'Original' not the 'johnny-come-lately' wannabe. My chosen Deity did something for me, He came and died for me and only 'asked' that I love him and take 'care' of the less fortunate not kill them if they didn't "kowtow".
- Reply to this comment
- Where was Jesus born and to whom? An Arab? A Jew? A babylonian?
Posted by ToolMangler at 04:25 PM : Apr 10, 2007
yah.... lots of arab were named Jesus.......... - Reply to this comment
- "It's unclear what you are attempting to prove, but according to Hebrew legends (no other sources) Israel existed from 1050 BCE to about 930 BCE, a period of 120 years."
Posted by tuckerndfw at 04:09 PM : Apr 10, 2007
Where was Jesus born and to whom? An Arab? A Jew? A babylonian? - Reply to this comment
- "I am an atheist and lifelong Texan."
"Amazing how the typical responses to facts about Zionism, Israel and Jews are insults."
Posted by tuckerndfw at 03:54 PM : Apr 10, 2007
Since I am not,I can forgive you for being an atheist.
As a Christian I was surprised by the vitriol of your heated response but not insulted. One persons view of "facts" are often colored by their perception of reality. Are you Aryian/White supremist? That might explain your responses, if not? I have no other explanation. Enlighten me! - Reply to this comment
- Posted by ToolMangler at 04:00 PM : Apr 10, 2007
The original claim was that without Israel, Jews would not exist.
It's unclear what you are attempting to prove, but according to Hebrew legends (no other sources) Israel existed from 1050 BCE to about 930 BCE, a period of 120 years.
After which, Israel ceased to exist until 1948.
Demonstrating that the claim Israel's existence is related to, or essential to the existence of Jews is either an outright lie, or the person making the asssertion is ignorant.
Israel & Jews are totally unrelated in the existential sense. Neither is necessary for the other's existence. - Reply to this comment
- But for a Muslim to keep his word to an infidel at the expense of opportunities to expand Islamic power is the Islamic equivalent of a mortal sin.
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?6bdec278-6a71-4436-bc4d-29d1c54b0ad7 - Reply to this comment
- C. 900 BCE: Israelite kingdom with capital at Jerusalem. First Temple built
586 BCE: destruction of First Temple, rebuilt in next century.
After 400 BCE: text of Jewish Bible ("Old Testament") reaches final form; much of it had originally been composed earlier.
70 CE: Romans destroy Second TempleBend of Jewish state until 1948. Jews remain in settlements throughout Roman Empire.
200-700 CE: "Talmudic period" orthodox Jewish law written down. Main center of Jewish life is in Babylonia (present-day Iraq) - Reply to this comment
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