Iran has new uranium plans

2004-09-01 17:12

Vienna - Iran has announced it plans to turn tons of uranium into the substance used to make enriched uranium, the UN atomic watchdog agency said on Wednesday in a report stoking concern about Tehran's nuclear agenda.

The confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said the agency had been informed that the Islamic Republic planned to process more than 40 tons of raw uranium into uranium hexafluoride.

Uranium hexafluoride is spun in centrifuges to produce enriched uranium, which in turn can be used to generate power or make nuclear warheads, depending on the degree of enrichment.

A senior diplomat familiar with the agency declined to say how much hexafluoride could be obtained from that amount of raw uranium, also known as yellowcake, beyond saying it was a "substantial amount."

Explosive devices

Another diplomat, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said that enough highly enriched uranium could be produced from the hexafluoride derived to make several explosive devices.

The report obtained by The Associated Press was circulated to diplomats ahead of the agency's board meeting, which starts September 13.

It did not specify what plans Iran had for the uranium hexafluoride.

But two other diplomats, speaking separately, said they had been told Iran had also informed the agency that it planned to introduce "a substance" into its 64-cascade centrifuge facility at Natanz in the near future.

Iran appeared to be alluding to uranium hexafluoride, they said.

Uranium hexafluoride is normally put in such centrifuges and spun repeatedly and at varying lengths of time depending on the degree of enrichment sought.

Uranium enriched above 90% is considered weapons grade.

The senior diplomat said any uranium hexafluoride that Iran produces "could be the feed stock for Natanz."

The issue of enrichment is extremely sensitive as the international community tries to determine if Iran is using its nuclear program for peaceful purposes only, as Tehran insists, or trying to make weapons.

- AP