Iran says it will triple uranium production capacity (Trying to build a bomb as fast as possible)

Jerusalem Post ^ | 6/8/2011 | Staff

[mojito]

Iran will shift its production of higher grade uranium to an underground bunker and triple its production capacity, it said on Wednesday in a defiant response to accusations it is trying to produce atomic bombs.

"This year, under the supervision of the (International Atomic Energy) Agency, we will transfer 20 percent enrichment from the Natanz site to the Fordow site and we will increase the production capacity by three times," the head of Iran's atomic energy agency, Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, told reporters after a cabinet meeting, the state broadcaster IRIB reported.

Iran only disclosed the existence of the Fordow site, in a mountain bunker, in September 2009, after Western intelligence had detected it and said it was evidence of covert nuclear work.

The decision to move production there and increase output drew immediate condemnation from the West, which has imposed a series of sanctions on Iran to try to force it to halt enrichment -- a process that can make weapons material if done to a much higher level.

"This announcement is a provocation," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"It reinforces the international community's existing concerns over the intransigence of the Iranian authorities and their persistent violation of international law."

The European Union voiced deep concern as well, saying Tehran was increasing its defiance of the UN Security Council.

[mojito]

Sure, the French are unhappy.

But a response from the WH or the State Dept.? Even an "this announcement is unhelpful"?

Oh. Gosh. You mean that this really puts the final nail in the coffin of 0's "engagement" policy? You mean the 0ne's grand gestures have been a complete and utter failure? And you're having a hard time admitting this?

[hosepipe]

What are they going to do with a bomb?..
If they blow one of them off.. quickly Iran will become a parking lot..
Unless they blow it up in Iran..

[Pollster1]

Former Syrian reactor.

Former Iraqi reactor.

I don't care how many bombs it takes, how many regular or special forces ground troops, or whether we need something larger than a conventional or fuel-air explosive. We need to make the Iranian program look like the Syrian and Iraqi programs - every site, every scientist, and every piece of equipment destroyed. This should have been done years ago, and if it costs more to stop now, that's the price of our previous irresponsibility, but it's much cheaper than failing to act.

[null and void]

444 days.

If they don’t have a working bomb before the next president, they won’t.

[swain_forkbeard]

“It reinforces the international community’s existing concerns...”

Ha ha.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Either accept it and give them a place at the big table or prevent it by any means necessary. To do neither is to act like a child.

[mojito]

At a minimum, they will use it to threaten their neighbors, especially Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, and Iraq. Probably Turkey too (although the Turks don't realize this just yet), and possibly Egypt too.

There is also a school of thought that postulates that the Iranians don't care if they're attacked after using a nuclear weapon to destroy much of Israel because their martyrdom will be glorious and bring forth the Mahdi. It frankly sounds implausible, until you actually start listening to the things the Iranians say, at which point it becomes frightening.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Not to worry.

Bibi will take care of business when the time comes.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

Well, at least the French are provoked. They won't support action, but they're awake.

[SunkenCiv]

The Libyan intervention makes more and more sense. /s

Thanks mojito.