Patterico's Pontifications

11/29/2009

Iran Plans 10 More Enrichment Sites

Filed under: International — DRJ @ 11:49 am



[Guest post by DRJ]

Iran has announced it plans to build 10 more enrichment sites:

“Iran approved plans Sunday to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities, a dramatic expansion that represented a slap to the U.N. nuclear watchdog, days after it demanded Tehran stop construction on one plant and halt all enrichment activities.
***
Iran currently has one operating enrichment facility, at the central town of Natanz, which has churned out around 1,500 kilograms (3,300 pounds) of low-enriched uranium over the past years – enough to build a nuclear weapon if Iran enriches it to a higher level. Iran says it has no intention of doing so, insisting its nuclear program aims only to generate electricity.

The revelation of a second, previously unannounced facility, under construction for years at Fordo near the holy of Qom, raised accusations from the United States and its allies that Iran was trying expand enrichment in secret out of inspectors’ sight. Iran denied the claim.”

Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran’s Vice President and nuclear chief, described the announcement as “a firm message” in response to the IAEA. The AP article describes it as a signal Iran is willing to risk further sanctions and is unconcerned about jeopardizing negotiations with the West.

How’s negotiating with our enemies working out so far?

— DRJ

9 Responses to “Iran Plans 10 More Enrichment Sites”

  1. Iran is floating on oil, yet claims it needs to enrich uranium in order to generate electricity.

    ropelight (b7b321)

  2. iaf pilots and israeli navy submarine crews just got some bonus levels added to their simulators.

    chaos (7c068a)

  3. With this kind of “in your face” attitude these crazy Mullahs would make a great hockey team. Team Obama would not even be a close match.

    Huey (b957d9)

  4. Can the US survive this Presidency to 2012?

    PITCHFORKSANDTORCHES (8165c3)

  5. Obama’s decision not to encourage the Iranian protestors after the fraudulent election in June is looking better and better every day.

    daleyrocks (718861)

  6. Team Obama plays JV tiddlywinks.

    The question is not whether or not we can survive until ’12, but can Israel?

    Once an Empty Suit, always an Empty Suit!

    AD - RtR/OS! (814f72)

  7. I have no doubt Israel will survive.

    The consequences are a bit scary, though.

    “Boots on the ground” may soon be a happy, nostalgic thought.

    Ag80 (3d1543)

  8. No one should be under any illusions about this. When it comes down to brass tacks, the Israelis WILL start blowing the fuck out of any & all suspected Iranian nuclear weapon facilities.

    Icy Texan (fc6afa)

  9. By happenstance I met an ex-Israeli Security Services Agent last month in SW Florida. He’s retired. After a brief chat, I felt good enough to ask him outright: Will Israel allow Iran to build a bomb?

    His response was to fix me with an unblinking stare, pause to consider his answer, and then say, “No.” There was no confusion, speculation, or ambiguity. He said, “No” and he meant it.

    ropelight (9da1c7)


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