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The Growing Threat of Iran's Nuclear Program
(Washington Post) Stephen Rademaker and Blaise Misztal - The true measure of Iran's progress toward nuclear weapons capability is the rate at which it is producing enriched uranium. By this measure, Iran is closer than ever to a nuclear weapon and its nuclear enrichment program has not been slowed but, rather, continues to accelerate. The Bipartisan Policy Center has been tracking the progress of Iran's nuclear program. We calculate that, if it chooses, Iran could produce enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear device in just 62 days using its existing stockpiles and current enrichment capability. International inspectors examine Iranian facilities only about once every two months. This means that Tehran is approaching the ability to produce a bomb's worth of highly enriched uranium before the international community realizes it has happened. Once Iran acquires more than 150 kg. of uranium enriched to 20% - which could happen by early 2013 - it would need only 12 days to produce enough fissile material for a bomb. Thus the threat posed by Iran's program continues to grow at an alarming rate. Stephen Rademaker is an adviser to the Bipartisan Policy Center. Blaise Misztal is associate director of foreign policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center.