[Reuters] Mark Heinrich - Iran is testing an advanced centrifuge at its Natanz nuclear complex, diplomats said on Wednesday, a move that could lead to Tehran enriching uranium much faster and gaining the means to build atom bombs. Iran had 3,000 P-1 centrifuges working by November, but only at an estimated 10% of capacity. Diplomats tracking Iran said it had started mechanical tests of a more efficient P-2 model, which is designed to enrich uranium 2-3 times faster. Diplomats said Iran had decided to install no more P-1s and expand capacity only with their more efficient successor. "I believe this is a disturbing development," said David Albright, head of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security and an ex-UN weapons inspector.
2008-02-07 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive