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How Close Is Iran to Getting a Nuclear Weapon?

(Foreign Policy) Colum Lynch - To acquire a fully functioning nuclear weapons program, Iran must develop enough highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium to fuel one or more nuclear bombs; construct a nuclear warhead capable of housing the fissile nuclear fuel; and develop a ballistic missile system capable of delivering a nuclear explosive to its target. Finally, it needs to conduct a test to see if the explosive actually works. David Albright, founder of the Institute for Science and International Security, said that Iran has already acquired enough 20% and 60% uranium to produce at least 45 kg. of highly enriched uranium at 90% - enough weapons-grade fuel to produce a nuclear bomb. In several months, it could produce enough fuel for two more bombs. In six months, Iran may be in a position to test a nuclear explosive. Yet the Iranians would still need to develop a working nuclear warhead. In 2009, an internal IAEA assessment concluded that before 2003, Iran had accumulated "sufficient information to be able to design and produce a workable implosion nuclear device." The IAEA assessed "that Iran has yet achieved the means of integrating a nuclear payload into the Shahab 3 missile with any confidence that it would work. Nonetheless, with further effort it is likely that Iran will overcome problems."
2022-01-13 00:00:00
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