Post #3, Iran Wants To Step Up Nuclear Proliferation

Click here to read the BBC news article "Iran Makes New Uranium Enrichment Challenge" written on February 7th.

Two days after the Iranian foreign minister claimed that a deal on swapping enriched uranium for nuclear fuel was close, President Ahmadinejad told nuclear chief Dr. Ali Akbar Salehi to enrich the uranium to 20% on national television.
Civilian nuclear power requires uranium to be enriched to 3%, while weapons grade uranium has been enriched to 90%.
In January, Iran informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that it did not accept the terms set in October of last year by the P5+1 (Germany), Iran and the IAEA.
Earlier this week the U.S., France and Britain circulated a discussion paper considering further sanctions against Iran, although China believes that the P5 must be patient and continue using diplomatic means to resolve the issue.
Iran wants to supply a research reactor with highly enriched uranium following the breakdown of discussions to provide fuel for the reactor. Some Western analysts believe Iran lacks the technical-know-how to make fuel rods, and fear this may be a stepping stone to the creation of weapons grade uranium.
This article relates to what we have been learning because Western countries' public policies are being adapted in order to stop Iran from creating nuclear material, through the use of sanctions. If Iran gains nuclear weapons the legitimacy of their government will be continued to be questioned, and Iran itself may become more unwilling to deal with other countries.

Photo Courtesy of BBC NEWS
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