Israel Matzav

Iran simulates nuclear warhead detonation

I guess now we know why IDF military intelligence chief Yossi Baidetz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday that Iran can produce a nuclear weapon whenever it wants. They've done the final simulation (Hat Tip: Atlas Shrugs).

German intelligence reports that Iranian scientists have successfully simulated the detonation of a nuclear warhead in laboratory conditions, in an effort to sidestep an underground nuclear test like the one that brought the world down on North Korea's head earlier this year. DEBKAfile's Iranian and intelligence sources report that this development is alarming because detonation is one of the most difficult technological challenges in the development of a nuclear weapon. Mastering it carries Iran past one of the last major obstacles confronting its program for the manufacture of a nuclear warhead.

After this breakthrough, the German BND intelligence believes it will take Tehran no more than a year to perfect its expertise and stock enough highly-enriched uranium to make the last leap toward building the first Iranian nuclear bomb or warhead. DEBKAfile's military sources confirm that simulated detonation of a warhead takes Iran to the highest level of weapons development.

Using the example of Israel and other nations, Western nuclear arms experts have claimed in recent years that since the emergence of simulated detonation technique, nuclear tests are no longer necessary.

How's that 'engagement' going? Any signs of the clenched fist opening?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:00 PM