(Institute for Science and International Security) David Albright - and Olli Heinonen The head of Iran's nuclear program says Iran has the capability to initiate mass production of advanced centrifuges on short notice. The mass production of these centrifuges (or their components) would greatly expand Iran's ability to sneak out or breakout to nuclear weapons capability. If the statement is true, Iran could have already stockpiled many advanced centrifuge components, associated raw materials, and the equipment necessary to operate a large number of advanced centrifuges. The U.S. and the IAEA need to determine the status of Iran's centrifuge manufacturing capabilities, including the number of key centrifuge parts Iran has made and the amount of centrifuge equipment it has procured. They need to ensure that Iran's centrifuge manufacturing is consistent with the intent of the nuclear deal. The Iranian statement illuminates significant weaknesses in the Iran deal that need to be fixed. David Albright, a physicist, is founder and President of the Institute for Science and International Security. Olli Heinonen is former Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and head of its Department of Safeguards.
2017-06-01 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive