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Exclusive: Iran Nuclear Bomb Could Be Possible by 2009
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Iran has more than tripled its ability to produce enriched uranium in the last three months, adding some 1,000 centrifuges which are used to separate radioactive particles from the raw material.
The development means Iran could have enough material for a nuclear bomb by 2009, sources familiar with the dramatic upgrade tell ABC News.
The sources say the unexpected expansion is taking place at Iran's nuclear enrichment plant outside the city of Natanz, in a hardened facility 70 feet underground.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
A spokesperson for the United Nation's International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, declined to comment citing the "extreme sensitivity" of the situation with Iran.
Iran has already declared its above-ground operations at Natanz have some 320 centrifuges.
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
The addition of 1,000 new centrifuges, which are not yet operational, means Iran is expanding its enrichment program at a pace much faster than U.S. intelligence experts had predicted.
"If they continue at this pace, and they get the centrifuges to work and actually enrich uranium on a distinct basis," said David Albright of the Institute for Science and International Security, "then you're looking at them having, potentially having enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon in 2009."
Previous predictions by U.S. intelligence had cited 2015 as the earliest date Iran could develop a weapon.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has publicly predicted his country would have 3,000 centrifuges installed by this May, but few in the West gave his claim much credence, until now.
"I think we have all been caught off guard. Ahmadinejad said they would have these 3,000 installed by the end of May, and it appears they may actually do it," Albright said.
The new centrifuges are in open defiance of the U.N. Security Council which last week imposed a new set of sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt enrichment.
Iran maintains its enrichment facilities are only meant to produce fuel for nuclear power reactors.
But the uranium they are enriching could not be used in the Russian nuclear power reactor they are currently building.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack declined to comment on the details of Iran's new centrifuges but told ABC News, "This kind of expansion of Iran's centrifuge capability is why we went to the U.N. Security Council and pushed for a stronger resolution and stronger sanctions."
April 2, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (269)
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Has anyone else noticed that this sudden breaking news comes right at the time that 15 British soldiers have been kidnapped and an American formber-FBI agent is assumed missing in Iran?
It seems that the Bush administration is building toward another unnecessary war.
Posted by: Doug | Apr 2, 2007 6:34:21 PM
There are two things the United States should be doing at this time. 1) Continue to pressure the international community to in turn pressure Iran. 2) Conduct convert operations to destabilize the Iranian economy in the hopes that the people of Iran will rise up. The United States must show no weakness in this regard.
Posted by: Steve G. | Apr 2, 2007 6:36:47 PM
I'd like to know where this info is coming from on Irans Nuclear processing.
If it's the same as Iraq and from Bush and his friends.
Beware of their voices. WE don't need another needless war on our hands over lies like we're in now.
Jim
Posted by: Jim Healey | Apr 2, 2007 6:38:50 PM
Ah, "sources." Who could argue with ironclad evidence like that??
Posted by: Dave J. | Apr 2, 2007 6:53:50 PM
I believe that a visit from Hillary Clinton and then a threat to leave her in Iran would be enough to bring the Irani hard liners to heel.
Posted by: robert J. Navin | Apr 2, 2007 6:58:13 PM
It looks like it may be up to Israel again.
Posted by: harold | Apr 2, 2007 7:16:07 PM
Maybe we should just try to be nice to them and they will like us. duh
Posted by: Jim | Apr 2, 2007 7:23:33 PM
Thanks for tonight's World News and for limiting the ads.
The reports on Iran's nuclear facility and on Kiribati were very good.
KP
Posted by: Kentledge Pierce | Apr 2, 2007 7:31:14 PM
I hope that we have learned something over the past 6 years and that we don't buy into this load of garbage that we are being fed again. Sounds like "WMD's" all over again.
Posted by: Bill | Apr 2, 2007 7:48:46 PM
They are out of control and need to be stopped immediately before this world becomes a deadly playground.
Posted by: mike carrico | Apr 2, 2007 7:52:46 PM
Name the sources!
Otherwise, rational Americans can only assume it's more Bush administration lies.
Posted by: Jon H | Apr 2, 2007 7:55:13 PM
"sources familiar with the dramatic upgrade tell ABC News."
Ok, let's have it. Who, in fact, are your "sources". We want names, titles, positions, experience and political affiliations.
Posted by: Eric Wachsman | Apr 2, 2007 8:03:14 PM
All this reminds me of the movie "The wizard of oz". Iran with its defiance of U.S. demands is removing the symbolic curtain and exposing that the Oz is nothing but a little midget!
Posted by: Reza | Apr 2, 2007 9:04:42 PM
Who are your mysterious 'sources'? Sounds like the same b.s. that was fed to us during the lead up to the Iraq war. How long will the government and news agencies continue to conspire and lie to us before we all wake up?
Posted by: Eric | Apr 2, 2007 9:10:13 PM
Without a decent source, this story sounds like propaganda to whip up public opinion to favor (or at least tolerate) the coming war. Is it true or is it an outright lie? Can you say Tonkin Gulf? What exactly do you have to back up these claims?
Posted by: carol | Apr 2, 2007 9:23:19 PM
Two things fascinate me: 1) the media supposedly has one slant, then, publishes stuff that one would think would help the Prez start another war.
2) People on both sides see what they want to see.
Posted by: Greg Sudderth | Apr 2, 2007 9:40:31 PM
If the kind of thinking in the above comments are a majority thinking in America then we are all doomed.
How can anyone in their right mind not take this at the upmost seriousness.
This article is not from the White House,State Department or Pentagon folks.
I am not a big fan of the main stream media nor trust the majority of their so called journalism but this time I am paying attention considering whatnews agency it is coming from.
Posted by: M Ingersoll | Apr 2, 2007 9:42:53 PM
This story should even be published. Who are "sources"?
The sources say the unexpected expansion is taking place at Iran's nuclear enrichment plant outside the city of Natanz, in a hardened facility 70 feet underground.
Posted by: gre | Apr 2, 2007 9:54:33 PM
Bush lies Bush lies... that is the only thing the left can come up with. If ABC wants to do a service to the country they will create and air a special detailing all the DEMOCRATS who stated unequivocally that Saddam had WMD before Bush ever came to office. I am sick of hearing the LIES of the loony left concerning WMD and Iraq. The history is clear, everyone including Democrats thought Saddam had WMD even prior to Bush being elected. The only lies in this whole sorted mess are the ones repeated by the liberal hate Bush above all else crowd.
Posted by: Cecil Trotter | Apr 2, 2007 9:55:31 PM
Who among you really believe that Iran, which has extremely vast amounts of oil/natural gas, really needs nuclear electricity....?
Ahmajinidad talks daily about wiping out Israel with one great flash of light - What do YOU think he means???
I'll teel you - A nuclear explosion in the atmosphere over Israel. This would send out an electromagnetic wave that would put Israel back to the 19th century, and posibly 'dud' most all their ability to hit back.
Posted by: dave | Apr 2, 2007 10:00:53 PM
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