Israel Matzav

Iran turns the tables?

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki issued an ultimatum of his own to the West on Saturday. Mottaki threatened that if the West does not give Iran enriched nuclear fuel by the end of January, it will enrich its own.

"We have given them an ultimatum. There is one month left and that is by the end of January," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said, speaking on state television.

However, even if Teheran started working on the fuel production immediately, it would likely take years before it can master the technology to turn uranium, enriched to the level of 20 percent, into rods that make the fuel.

Unless they have mastered it already, which is likely the case if they are making a threat like this.

"[The West] must decide on supplying fuel for the Teheran reactor on one of the two offers, purchase or swap," Mottaki said. "Otherwise, the Islamic Republic of Iran will produce the 20 percent enriched fuel with its own capable experts."

Enrichment is at the core of the nuclear controversy. Iran currently has one operating enrichment facility that churns out 3.5 percent enriched uranium. The country needs fuel enriched to 20 percent to power a Teheran medical research reactor. For nuclear weapons, uranium needs to be enriched to 90 percent or more.

But getting to 20% is the hard part. Getting from 20% to 90% is much easier.

The Obumbler will accept Iran's offer in 3... 2... 1....

What could go wrong?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:37 PM