Iran can create nuclear weapon despite technical problems

Over the last weeks, the U.S. officials made some statements about "the potential opportunities of Iran to develop nuclear weapons." An expert on nuclear energy Reza Taghizadeh said despite that Iran faces with technical problems, it is possible that it is able to create a nuclear weapons.

March 11, the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in his speech in the Senate that the development of Iran's nuclear program intensifies suspicions concerning the manufacture of nuclear weapons by the country. He said the possession of nuclear weapons will depend on the political will and decisions of the government. In addition, the U.S. Department State adviser on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons Robert Einhorn said on March 10 that Iran intends to get to the brink of a nuclear arms capability so it could make them if it wished.

Despite statements by the U.S. officials, many experts believe that the acquisition of nuclear weapons production technology by Iran is a complicated process. They believe clearing 90-percent enriched uranium from other metals, the production of nuclear warheads and installing them on the booster and breaking relations with the IAEA and removing all inspectors from the country is a big obstacle for Iran.

The statements by U.S. officials about possibility of Iran's creating nuclear weapons are real and serious, Reza Taghizadeh, a member of the Trend Expert Council, an expert of Iranian origin living in Britain, told Trend.


Currently Iran has 3,000 kg 3.5% enriched uranium and could produce 35 kg of 20% enriched uranium. The uranium gas enriched to this level can be used in a nuclear reactor as fuel only after converting to fuel bar. However, if Iran can enrich uranium gas (UF6) up to 90%, it will have the capacity to produce nuclear weapons.

Taghizadeh believes not only statements by U.S. officials, but also the speech by the IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano at the Board of Governors on March 9 and his report made on Feb. 25 say that the international community has changed its attitude towards the nuclear program which causes serious concern as well as Iran aims to get to brink of nuclear arms.

In its report issued in 2007, CIA noted that Iran suspend its nuclear program in 2003, but at the moment Iran is working to at least possess the potential to produce nuclear weapons.

The uranium produced by Iran contain mixed minerals and metals. Typically, the uranium ore in fields is composed of minerals, including phosphate, silicate and oxide compounds.

However, 90-percent enriched uranium used in the production of nuclear weapons should be cleared.

Russia also previously stated the plan to exchange 1,200 kg Iranian low-enriched uranium to 20%-enriched uranium for Tehran's nuclear laboratoriy, that the Iranian 3.5% enriched uranium contains a lot of metal Impurities.

Taghizadeh believes that if to consider that Iran's technology of centrifuges used for uranium enrichment is weak, it is difficult to clear uranium from mixed metals, but the mixed metals available in uranium do not prevent its enrichment up to 90 percent. It only leads to that more uranium will be needed for the warhead to be produced by Iran and the weight of bomb will be more, but it is not an obstacle for nuclear weapons production.


If Iran will successfully produce nuclear warheads, another problem the country will face is installing warhead on a launcher. To date, Iran has been able to produce ballistic missiles that can hit targets at a distance of 3,000 km, and has the biggest missile arsenal in the Middle East.

According to Taghizadeh, nuclear warhead launchers usually have their proper characteristics and mounting a warhead requires certain changes in design of nose of rocket.

Taghizadeh believes, citing the Amano report, that Iran is seriously working on missiles that can carry a nuclear warhead. Iran has so far sent a satellite into space and tested a solid-fuel Shahab 3 missile. Expert believe that the facts show that although the diameter of nose of Shahab-3 missile is small and it is not capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but the facts show that Iran is working on the design of nose of missiles which can carry nuclear warhead.


/Trend/