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Another Iranian Milestone

[Wall Street Journal, 29May07] Editorial - In 2005, the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate predicted that Iran would be unable to produce sufficient quantities of weapons-grade uranium until "early to mid-next decade." Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran was operating 1,312 centrifuges - up from 164 just last year - and could be operating as many as 3,000 within a month. That's enough to produce one bomb's worth of uranium every year. At the current rate at which they are adding capacity, the Iranians are expected to have 8,000 centrifuges by December, enough to produce several bombs' worth of weapons-grade uranium a year. The IAEA report also notes that "Iran has not agreed to any of the required transparency measures" demanded by the nuclear watchdog, and should put to rest the illusion that we can take our sweet diplomatic time dealing with Iran's nuclear file. Iran has for nine months been in material breach of a binding UN resolution requiring that it suspend its enrichment programs. With neither Russia nor China inclined to impose, much less honor, any kind of effective sanctions regime, don't look to the UN for much progress. Are there better options? Iran imports nearly half of its refined gasoline. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and new French President Nicolas Sarkozy could demonstrate their Atlanticist credentials by putting a halt to their combined $8 billion in export guarantees to companies doing business with Iran. If you don't like the look of the Middle East today, wait until the region's most fanatical regime gets its hands on the world's worst weapon.
2007-05-29 01:00:00
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