Posted on 06/23/2005 12:36:56 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) - Former chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said Thursday it would take many years for Iran to achieve the capability to produce highly enriched uranium needed for an atomic bomb.
Blix also dismissed worries about a new nuclear reactor being built in Iran, saying it was not suitable to produce weapons-grade material.
"They have many years to go before they will be able to produce highly enriched uranium for a bomb and I believe there is plenty of room for negotiations," Blix said in an interview with Swedish Radio.
The U.S. has accused Iran of trying to make nuclear arms, but Tehran says its nuclear program is for generating energy.
Blix dismissed worries about a nuclear reactor Russia is building in the Iranian city of Bushehr, which the United States fears could help Tehran develop nuclear weapons.
Iranian state television on Thursday quoted Asabollah Sabori, deputy head of Iran's nuclear agency, as saying the Bushehr reactor will become fully operational by end of 2006.
U.S. officials have said they accept for now Russian assurances that no enrichment or reprocessing will take place, and that any spent fuel rods will be returned to Russia.
"These type of reactors are not very suitable to produce plutonium. It is possible, but it is very difficult," Blix said.
"The way to go normally is to build a research reactor. The Iranians have such plans for a 40-megawatt reactor and to use heavy water, which has led to some suspicions.
"But these plans are very much in their infancy and the West is not particularly worried and maybe (can) count on being able to talk the Iranians out of it."
Iran suspended all uranium enrichment-related activities in November to avoid having its nuclear program referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions. France, Britain and Germany have been offering economic incentives in hopes of persuading Iran to put a permanent halt to enrichment.
However, Iran has always said its suspension is temporary and it will never abandon enrichment.
Blix, a former Swedish foreign minister, said in 2003 he believed Iraq had destroyed most of its weapons of mass destruction years before, but kept up the appearance that it had them to deter a military attack.
He now heads a Stockholm-based independent commission on weapons of mass destruction.
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He now heads a Stockholm-based independent commission on weapons of mass destruction.
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He couldn't find a WMD if ya shoved it up his nose.
Hans Brix!!!!
Maybe he should hand carry a strongly worded letter over to the Ayatollahs....
I thought he was eaten in the shark tank.
Oh, cool! Glad that's settled now...
Somehow the thought of Iran having Nukes in say 5 or 10 years is not all that comforting.
Has Hans been talking to Sean Penn?
No, but he is known to speak to Sean Penn Laden! it takes a village idiot..
And if they don't watch it they'll soon be centuries away from nuke weapons.
Hans Brixs!
You're bweaking my bawls, Hans.
Cecily: "Hans Blix Decades/Millenia Away From A Clue."
Who let this guy out of the home?
Musta been scott ritter!
I watched that flick for the first time Monday. It was a Father's Day gift (even though I would never let my kid watch it). Hillarious. "America! **** yeah!"
I have to admit...I will never, ever be able to think of Kim Jong Il, Hans Brix (oops Blix) the same way again...:0
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