IAEA: Iran Enriching Uranium Gas

Atomic Energy Agency Warns Of Swift Advance Of Nation's Nuclear Program

(CBS/AP)  Iran has started enriching small amounts of uranium gas at its underground plant and is already running more than 1,300 of the machines used in the enrichment process, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency document obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.

The confidential document — a letter to Iranian officials from a senior IAEA staff member — also protests an Iranian decision to prevent agency inspectors to visit the country's heavy water facility that, when built, will produce plutonium. Enriched uranium and plutonium can both be used for the fissile core of nuclear warheads.

Last week, Iran said it had begun operating 3,000 centrifuges at its Natanz facility, nearly 10 times the previously known number. The United States, Britain, France and others criticized the announcement, but experts, and several world powers, expressed skepticism that Iran's claims were true and diplomats in Vienna familiar with the state of the program told the AP they were greatly exaggerated.

Still, the one-page letter reflected a swift advance in the program. A little more than two weeks ago, those diplomats had said Tehran was running only a little more than 600 centrifuges, and had not introduced any uranium gas into them.

The letter, signed by IAEA Deputy Director General Olli Heinonen and dated April 18 said the agency wanted to "take note of the information provided by Iran ... that Iran has put into operation" 1,312 centrifuges, the machines used to spin the gas into enriched uranium.

The letter also cited Iranian information to the agency that "some UF6 is being fed" into the centrifuges, referring to the uranium gas that can be enriched to levels potent enough to be used for nuclear arms.

Iran says it wants to enrich only to lower levels suitable to generate nuclear power. But suspicions about its ultimate intentions, after nearly two decades of nuclear secrecy exposed only four years ago, have led to U.N. Security Council sanctions for its refusal to freeze its enrichment program.

"Regardless of whether the timetable is one year or five, Iran is proceeding to enrich uranium to industrial grade in defiance of U.N. sanctions," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk, "buying time with each six-month period that the Security Council sanctions allow."

"There is a sense at the U.N., among the permanent members of the Security Council, that something else needs to be done alongside the sanctions to convince Iran to get back to compliance," adds Falk.

It was unclear what the purpose of the uranium gas feed was. A diplomat accredited to the IAEA, who demanded anonymity because he was disclosing confidential information, said the operation appeared to be part of "stress tests" meant see if the machines were running smoothly.

But he and another diplomat said that, even if the operation was not meant to enrich large amounts of uranium, it appeared to be the last step before larger-scale enrichment begins.

Tehran's heavy water enrichment facilities at Arak also are under suspicion, because the plant, once constructed, will produce plutonium, which can also be used in an arms program. Iran argues it needs the plant for medical research, despite a Security Council demand that it also freeze construction at Arak.

When it is completed within the next decade, Arak will produce enough plutonium for two bombs a year.

Iran last month announced it was unilaterally abrogating part of its Safeguards Agreements linked with the IAEA under which Tehran is obligated to report to the agency six months before it introduces nuclear material of any kind into any facility. In his letter, Heinonen suggested that Iran invoked this move in denying his inspectors the right to visit the Arak facility, but argued it was illegal, because such agreements "cannot be modified unilaterally."

Beyond that, Heinonen said, IAEA inspectors should be allowed to visit Arak because the section abrogated by Iran had to do with early provision of design information of new nuclear facilities and "not to the frequency or timing of" agency inspections to verify information on design already provided by Iran.

Ali Ashgar Soltanieh, the chief Iranian delegate to the IAEA, did not specifically answer those concerns but asserted at a public lecture at the University of Vienna that his country had "no obligation to inform the IAEA" beyond the point that it was prepared to do so.

He said Iran cannot except Security Council demands that it suspend enrichment because they represent a "humiliation of the nation." But he said the Islamic republic was ready to negotiate on international concerns about its nuclear ambitions as long as the precondition of an enrichment freeze was dropped.

[fascistusa]

Here comes some more b*u*l*l*sh*i*t Government Propaganda from NBC saying the Virginia Tech shooter had a "Mainfesto".

Want to bet the "Manifest" will further the Neo-Cons (FASCISTS) goals?

The "Mainfesto" will be something to further their goal towards Invading Iran or making The US a Police State.

DON'T TRUST THE CORPORATE PROPAGANDA "NEWS"!!!!

[obiquital]

You people are stupid.
I don't like Bush either but he isn't trying to ruin the country. I'm sure in his mind he thinks he is doing good for the country.
And now you say the Liberal press is trying to further the goals of the Conservative president? Yeah ok conspiracy theorist. It amazes me that you could actually believe what you are saying.

[bizzzz-2009]

I agree with obiquital. Didntinhale, you obviously do sometimes.
I would much rather put my security in the hands of Bush than in the hands of a conspiracy nut like you, who has far fetched ideas about Bush's lies, more importantly, your belief that Iran is a peaceful regime. You can't even type, I'm sure the closest thing to a book you've read in a while is "High Times".
Didntinhale, spark another one up and calm down.

[pwrslm]

Seig Heil Facist...I know this Iran Uranium story is bull as well its just another Bush plot to Ruin da country.
Posted by didntinhale at 05:30 PM : Apr 18, 2007

This is called "willful ignorance".

It really has no place in modern news discussions.

[fascistusa]

The Fact that you even use the term "conspiracy nut" put you in the realm of the Brainwashed. Or paid employee of CBSNBCCNNABC Corporate "News".

Do you ever try debating the Issues? Ever??

Here comes some more b*u*l*l*sh*i*t Government Propaganda from NBC saying the Virginia Tech shooter had a "Mainfesto".

Want to bet the "Manifest" will further the Neo-Cons (FASCISTS) goals?

The "Mainfesto" will be something to further their goal towards Invading Iran or making The US a Police State.

DON'T TRUST THE CORPORATE PROPAGANDA "NEWS"!!!!

[bizzzz-2009]

Being brainwashed is a two way street. It can be based on either proven fact or speculation. I do debate issues quite often, citing proven fact and discounting speculation or, in your case, something your buddy told you while passing the bong to you.

[tbweb]

By ignoring U.N. Sanctions and not allowing IAEA full access to Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran is engaging in extremely provocative behavior. Even U.N. members who prefer a diplomatic solution over military action have to be startled at Irans defiance. It makes no sense for Iran to act this way in the face of U.N. Sanctions and a vast U.S. Naval armada sitting off Iranian shores. Irans recent capture of British Royal Navy Sailors in the face of that vast U.S. Naval armada further demonstrate Irans brazen arrogance and defiance. My conclusion is Iran is acting this way because Iran has illegally acquired nuclear weapons and is nuclear armed now. How Iran obtained these nuclear weapons is a mystery and it's tempting to point to North Korea but the Black Market is ripe with get rich quick scum too and Iran has plenty of money to spend! Nothing else makes sense and Iran is crazy but not stupid.

[fascistusa]

You dumbf*u*c*k*

YOUR GOVERNMENT IS RUN BY THE ELITE. YOUR NEWS IS RUN BY THE ELITE.

EVERYTHING YOU ARE TOLD BY THE FASCIST CORPORATE MEDIA HAS AN AGENDA. EVERYTHING.

THE AGENDA IS IRAN.

[tbweb]

You dumbf*u*c*k*

YOUR GOVERNMENT IS RUN BY THE ELITE. YOUR NEWS IS RUN BY THE ELITE.

EVERYTHING YOU ARE TOLD BY THE FASCIST CORPORATE MEDIA HAS AN AGENDA. EVERYTHING.

THE AGENDA IS IRAN.

Posted by fascistusa at 08:47 PM : Apr 18, 2007

--fascistusa

The News Media's slogan no matter who runs it is not "Death To American" like Irans, explain that away!

[tbweb]

Lets take the emotion out for a moment and do a very simple analysis! When Iran captured Royal Navy Sailors, World Oil prices jumped. Since then Iran has been making no less than an extra $25 million US dollars a day! Not $25 million a week, or month but an extra $25 million a day! That's a lot of extra money! Now lets say nuclear material WAS available on the Black Market that would allow Iran to make nuclear weapons! All Iran would need to do is take 4 days of that extra money, $100 million dollars and buy nuclear material on the Black Market, if it was available of course! Now I ask a very simple question, if you had nuclear material to sell that Iran could use to make nuclear weapons and Iran offered you $100 million dollars U.S., you wouldn't sell it to Iran? Yeah right! I rest my case!!

[fascistusa]

DO you speak arabic? Do you?

Is that REALLY what Iran's media says?

Death to the strongest nuclear power Country that cound wipe them off the face of the earth??

Let me see... who keeps telling YOU that Iran's Media says that?? Huh??

[fascistusa]

DO you speak arabic? Do you?

Is that REALLY what Iran's media says?

Death to the strongest nuclear power Country that cound wipe them off the face of the earth??

Let me see... who keeps telling YOU that Iran's Media says that?? Huh??

[tbweb]

I remember a trip Senator Lugar made to Moscow to discuss the lack of security at Soviet era nuclear sites. I remember a video showing in most cases these sites were protected by no more than weak chain fences, it looked like anybody could walk in and take whatever they wanted! A lot of the nuclear material from the Soviet era is missing and unaccounted for! Where is it? The U.S. is so worried about security at now Russian nuclear sites the U.S. is paying Russia to secure them or was before Russia came into a lot of energy money. But the point is this nuclear material is out there somewhere and the next logical question is would Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad be the type of person who would buy such illegal nuclear material? Maybe not, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is an honorable man who plays by the rules and obeys Internatinal law, he wouldn't do such an illegal thing would he? If anybody would he surely would and probably has!

[tbweb]

--fascistusa

I'm serious about taking the emotion and heated rhetoric out and dealing with only the facts. The Iranian Media really has nothing to do with Irans Official Slogan which really is "Death to America". It is what it is! That Slogan all by itself says it all! What serious nation would even have such a Slogan? That's a very hateful Slogan!

[whyowhy2]

It is simple. Every Iranian official is now a legitimate target. They can run, but they cannot hide. We can start with eliminating all Iranian's attached to the UN.
They do not understand reason, so we must speak their language...a tortuous death to every Iranian official.

Allah has told me to make sure this message gets out...and action is taken.

The address of the Iranian Mission to the UN is:
M. Javad Zarif, Ambassador and Permenant Representative
40th Street and 3rd Avenue

[j-whitman]

badaxmofo,, Isreal really shouldn't be on the map, not as a Jewish state anyway.

[pwrslm]

badaxmofo,, Isreal really shouldn't be on the map, not as a Jewish state anyway.
Posted by j-whitman

and you shouldnt be walking free

or allowed to spew this kind of trash in front of kids

lucky you, eh? You can be a biggot. This is America. Take pride, eh?

[fascistusa]

We live in a FASCIST COUNTRY ruled by the American Elite and Israel/AIPAC.

YOU NEWS LIES TO YOU.

YOUR GOVERNMENT LIES TO YOU.

NO. IRAN DOES NOT HAVE DEATH TO AMERICA ALL OVER ITS NEWS.

But let's keep all emotion out of it. Just be Another Brick In The Wall.

[pwrslm]

fascistusa


you need to stop doing drugs before posting on news issues dude

its pretty obvious that you have no idea what is going on

[whyowhy2]

A.F.E.T.A.T

AFETAT

[j-whitman]

pwrslm,,,
Who are you talking too ?? It was the 1st & only time in history a state was created for displaced people.... How about a state for our American indians ?? -- They should have been returned to the countries they originated in, don't you think ??? --- I'm no bigot, far from it..... You just come on here & spew your own ignorance & call others un-American.

[whyowhy2]

A.F.E.T.A.T

AFETAT

[j-whitman]

pwrslm,,,

Are you ready to fire Bush yet ???

At Least 183 Dead In Baghdad Bombings

8 Coast Gurard Cutters "Deep Water Project" are being scrapped.

Our troops are still under equipped, training has been stopped they need.

[huanaco]

I HAVE TO REMIND EVRYBODY ALL THE HYPE DONE BEFORE INVADING IRAQ . AS MANY SOLDIERS SAID, WE ARE GOING IN TO KICK *** AND RETURN HOME, THE KICKING IS TAKING LONGER THAN EXPECTED. THAT IS WHY I SUGGEST TO THE PRESS , STOP BRAINWASHING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THEY DID AN EXCELENT JOB WITH IRAQ , I HOPE THEY DON,T FOLLOW THE SAME LINE WITH IRAN. SHOW A LITTLE INDEPENDANCE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND MR. BUSH.ACTUALLY WE DON,T HAVE ROOM AND MONEY FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE.

[j-whitman]

ADMIRAL WILLIAM J. FALLON, USN Commander, U.S. Pacific Command -- Says now Iraq is going down hill on a daily basis.

[j-whitman]

huanaco -- Iraq is lost, it's a total mess -- Our troops win every engagement they are assigned.

The problem is our 'Decider' who consistantly makes bad, deadly decisions & issues tried & failed policies.

[j-whitman]

singinrick,,,, BS... God had nothing to do with it --- It was a King who was called a God, probably Cyris the Great.... You've got the same problem Gonzales has, he only reads one book.

[tbweb]

I HAVE TO REMIND EVRYBODY ALL THE HYPE DONE BEFORE INVADING IRAQ . AS MANY SOLDIERS SAID, WE ARE GOING IN TO KICK *** AND RETURN HOME, THE KICKING IS TAKING LONGER THAN EXPECTED. THAT IS WHY I SUGGEST TO THE PRESS , STOP BRAINWASHING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THEY DID AN EXCELENT JOB WITH IRAQ , I HOPE THEY DON,T FOLLOW THE SAME LINE WITH IRAN. SHOW A LITTLE INDEPENDANCE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND MR. BUSH.ACTUALLY WE DON,T HAVE ROOM AND MONEY FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE.

Posted by huanaco at 10:52 PM : Apr 18, 2007

--huanaco

The U.S. did exactly everything you said except leave Iraq! The U.S. got rid of Saddam and didn't find any weapons of mass destruction, end of mission, go home! Let Iraq rebuild itself or kill each other with their stupid religious violence, the U.S. job was done and the mission was over as stated. But then the U.S. had mission creep, nation building, which was not in the original plan! I have no idea why the U.S. decided to stay in Iraq! If the Iraqis want to blow each other up, that's their business! I would have said bye bye, have fun!

[j-whitman]

tbweb,,,
Unfortunatly we will be in Iraq for decades yet, they can't even maintain security in thier part of the Green Zone ----- BLAME THE 'DECIDER' --- The only ones who think Iraq is going great are the neo-cons who don't want to be called the "Party of Surrender" & Singinrick.

[j-whitman]

tbweb,,,,

I gotta keep asking,, Why doesn't Bush mention the UAE ????? Or why is he supporting Sunni militants ?????

9/11 attack was by Sunni's,,, Most from the UAE

[j-whitman]

singinrick,,,, "This article isn't even about Iraq. It's about Iran... Pray for the folks at Virginia Tech and the victims families."

It's all about Iraq -- For your info

It's not about Virginia Tech,, You pray for them they where all qualified for military duty.

[tbweb]

tbweb,,,,

I gotta keep asking,, Why doesn't Bush mention the UAE ????? Or why is he supporting Sunni militants ?????

9/11 attack was by Sunni's,,, Most from the UAE

Posted by j-whitman at 11:27 PM : Apr 18, 2007

--j-whitman

President Bush is the ultimate decider but he does have some smart advice from various sources including his dad, not just in his administration. The U.S. collective intellengence must think this is the best path, anyway I hope that's the case because if its not, God help us all.

[j-whitman]

Rick,,, So far, there is absoultly no intell Iran has a nuclear weapons program,,,, What we do have, 16 intellegence agencies say is "highly argumentive & on a very low scale of reliability.

Then remember back a few years,, Bush was totally ignoring the IAEA..... You can seriously doubt anything coming fromn the White House on the subject.

[j-whitman]

Rick,,, I've got a bridge to sell you cheap, no money down & 0% intrest,,,, It's called the Golden Gate -- I'll even throw in Lake Tahoe.... Get your head out of your but.

[tbweb]

Rick,,, So far, there is absoultly no intell Iran has a nuclear weapons program,,,, What we do have, 16 intellegence agencies say is "highly argumentive & on a very low scale of reliability.

Then remember back a few years,, Bush was totally ignoring the IAEA..... You can seriously doubt anything coming fromn the White House on the subject.

Posted by j-whitman at 11:39 PM : Apr 18, 2007

--j-whitman

In sticking with only the facts, quoting intelligence sources from anywhere in the world seems shakey at best! Every intelligence source thought incorrectly Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and it didn't! Intelligence sources need to prove themselves again and until then talk to the hand, the face ain't listening!

[j-whitman]

tbweb,,,, I think the jury is still out on the use of intell to take us to war - Investigations are still in progress.

[tbweb]

tbweb,,,, I think the jury is still out on the use of intell to take us to war - Investigations are still in progress.

Posted by j-whitman at 11:46 PM : Apr 18, 2007

--j-whitman

The simple fact is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scary by any stretch of the imagination and he seems to enjoy scaring the hell out of everybody! He really is nothing more than a common thug and bully and there is nothing diplomatic about him so why does everyone think being diplomatic will work, he fakes diplomacy and acts likes he's going along for the sole purpose of buying time for his nightmare agenda! Iran is living proof why there should be a separation between Church and State. Religious rule "only" is extremely dangerous!

[j-whitman]

Rick,,,, You've got a very limited view on Islmic Law, Arafat was a nut bag though..

You are aware that we have no law that allows Bush to violate them as he choses with his signing statments ??? --- That's a violation of our Constitution & the Presidential Oath of Office.

[j-whitman]

Good night folks.

[j-whitman]

tbweb,,,, He's alot like Bush isn't he ??? Only without ENRON.... Henry Kissinger told Nixon George HW Bush was an idiot,,, his son W is as smart as a Gold Fish & it's been showing for 6 years....

Much damage has been done to our country & National Security.

[tbweb]

I want to make it clear I don't advocate the U.S. attacking Iran. I don't think with the climate in the U.S. the U.S. public has the stomach for attacking Iran, the U.S. public by and large don't even want to continue in Iraq! But with that said it still doen't mean Iran doesn't need to be attacked. Iran is provoking war in every way, and seems to be seeking it out! I don't understand why other nations don't see the Iranian threat to world peace the way the West does. Iran is one of those nations that if it had nuclear weapons and I beleive in some context it does, Iran will use them sooner than other nations would. Iran is on a very short fuse!

[tbweb]

Night folks....

Posted by singinrick at 12:14 AM : Apr 19, 2007

,,,same here!

Night folks....

[neoconrcrazy]

The full and complete blame for this situation with iranian nuclear development can be laid at the door of the United States, particularly at the door of Bushit and his neocons.

They have ignored, downgraded, violated, all aspects of the NPT - claiming "rights" which they forbid others. Like nukes in space, to mention the most obvious.

By refusing to adhere to long standing international agreements on the development of nuclear technology, American has opened the door for other nations to do exactly the same. Only chaos can result from this dangerous and mistaken policy.

[acauble1]

By refusing to adhere to long standing international agreements on the development of nuclear technology, American has opened the door for other nations to do exactly the same. Only chaos can result from this dangerous and mistaken policy.

Posted by neoconRcrazy at 03:14 AM : Apr 19, 2007

You are right 'neoconRcrazy'

The Bush administration had recently "canceled" their latest nuclear proliferation project which was to create bunker-busting smart bombs that has the ability to carry small nuclear warheads.

Nevertheless, those plans, when introduced in 2002, were widely known to the world and drew widespread condemnation. That also prompted Russia to rapidly advance their nuclear arsenal as well. Russia, about a year ago, successfully launched a newly improved sub-launched ICBM called the 'Bolava'. The Bolava is designed to evade any kind of anti-balistic missile system ever developed (including the current POS system the U.S. has in "operation").

Needless to say, countries like Iran, Russia, China and perhaps others, will all feel that the biggest threat to world peace is actually the country that currently has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, and has a dumbsh*t president more than willing to use it. This is known as first strike which Bush proudly announced just about two years ago.

It's no wonder other countries want to make sure they have a formiddable response incase of invasion!

[alexgin]

http://www.deiryassin.org/mas.html#item1

As for remembering the peace lover and peace spreading Israel. Without them and their nukes our world will not see the PEACE again.

Pitiable simple minded people.

[alexgin]

facistusa

"DO you speak arabic? Do you?

Is that REALLY what Iran's media says?

Death to the strongest nuclear power Country that cound wipe them off the face of the earth??

Let me see... who keeps telling YOU that Iran's Media says that?? Huh??"

What did you learn in school? Iranian speak Farsi they are Persian not Arab they don't speak Arabic!!!!!!

[karlimhof]

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Wednesday that Israel must be "wiped off the map" - singindick from 27 oct 2005 new article


Sorry dude, wrong again. He said "the zionist regime must be pushed into the sea".

Farsi is a difficult but rich language, but does not contain all our expressions. "Wipe off the map" is one of them.

But it does make for the sought-after impression, and there are enough fools out there to repeat it day after day. Try a little research before "singin'"....

[pwrslm]

I get the feeling that this web site draws more than its share of bread dead sheeple than most others do.

Just reading the posts these vipers and rumormongoring idiots make is ample proof of that fact.

One would think that if any of this claptrap were true, that congress would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute the President. Its never happened. All the gossip in the world will not change that fact.

Sure enought though, soon as they read this, the idiot parade will charge again.

Ok halfwits, post more of your lies, go for it boyz.

[zootallures2]

Ronald Reagan and the international community condemed the Israeli raid on the Osirak reactor. Which would have wiped Iran off the map. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is definately in the right on his stance against the west. They installed the Shah, proxied Saddam to invade Iran, and shot down Irainin civilian jet liners. But his stance agaist Israel on the sole basis that they are Jews, is ridiculous and make him look like a jack-a$$.

[zootallures2]

Not to mention Iran is plagued by Arab terrorists also. The Jews in Iran aren't trying to form an independant state are they?