Traces of uranium enriched to 27% found at Iranian nuclear site
The UN atomic agency has found evidence at an underground bunker in Iran that could mean the country has moved closer to producing the uranium threshold needed to arm nuclear missiles, diplomats said Friday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says in a report that its experts have found particles enriched up to 27 percent at the Fordo nuclear facility. That is higher than the 20 percent declared by Iran and closer to the weapons-grade material used in the fissile core of such missiles.
The restricted report says Iran explains the find as a technical glitch. The agency says it is assessing that explanation and has asked for more details, while analysts and diplomats say Iran’s version sounds plausible.
Low enrichment is used to fuel reactors. The higher the enrichment level, the easier it is to reach the 90-percent threshold needed to make nuclear arms.
The news comes a day after Iran and six world powers found they were still far apart over how to oversee Tehran’s atomic program but wanted talks to continue to avoid possible military action.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/nearly-weapon-grade-uranium-traces-found-at-iranian-nuclear-site/
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