Israel Matzav

Why would a 'peaceful' nuclear program require uranium enrichment

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that US President Hussein Obama is considering letting Iran keep its uranium enrichment facilities as part of its 'peaceful' nuclear program.Saudi Arabia and Israel are furious. The Jerusalem Post has more.

The Wall Street Journal quoted a senior US official as saying that Washington was willing to talk to Iran "about what President Obama said in his address at the UN General Assembly, and that is that he respects the rights of the Iranian people to access a peaceful nuclear program." The official stated that what this entails is exactly the matter that is up for discussion.

Israel's security cabinet released a statement prior to the start of talks on Tuesday, saying that Jerusalem "does not oppose Iran having a peaceful nuclear energy program. But as has been demonstrated in many countries, from Canada to Indonesia, peaceful programs do not require uranium enrichment or plutonium production. Iran's nuclear weapons program does."

A country that can enrich uranium to about 3.5% will also have the capability to enrich to 90%, the security cabinet said, warning the West against prematurley easing sanctions. "Having fuel cycle capability virtually means that a country that possesses this capability is able to produce nuclear weapons."

What could go wrong?

Labels: Iran sanctions regime, Iranian nuclear threat, Israeli attack on Iran, uranium enrichment

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:07 PM