(New York Times)The recent nuclear accord European officials signed with Iran appears to have halted Tehran's uranium enrichment program at least temporarily, but it leaves Iran free to make plutonium, which can also be used as fuel for nuclear weapons, diplomats and arms experts say. Weapons experts say plutonium is often preferred to enriched uranium for compact warheads on missiles because it takes a smaller amount to produce a significant blast. European diplomats said the issue of suspending Iran's plutonium program was set aside during recent negotiations as a concession to getting the more limited suspension deal. But American experts suggested the European approach had addressed only half the atomic threat.
2004-11-25 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive