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Iran's Uranium Hoard
(Wall Street Journal) Editorial - Iran has produced four tons of low-enriched uranium since the interim nuclear agreement came into effect in January 2014, the Institute for Science and International Security reported Tuesday. The agreement required Iran to convert the enriched uranium into an oxide form that cannot be easily turned into weaponizable material. And here is where Iran has failed to comply. As the ISIS report notes, Iran has produced only 150 kg. of uranium oxide, "a mere five percent of what was expected." Since last November Iran hasn't even bothered to convert any enriched uranium into oxide. Iran has until the end of June to convert the remaining 3,800 kilos into oxide if it's to honor the terms of the deal. Don't hold your breath. The Iranians claim that their efforts to oxidize the uranium have been slowed by technical snafus and fouled by sabotage. Sabotage by whom? It makes no sense for the West to stymie an attempt to reduce Iran's stockpile of weapons-usable uranium.