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Fri, Oct 22, 2010 | ISNA

Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Chief, Ali Akbar Salehi (Photo: ISNA/Amir Kholoosi)

Iran Claims It Produces 30 kg Of 20-Percent Enriched Fuel

Ali Akbar Salehi, Chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said the country has produced roughly 30 kg of 20-percent enriched fuel so far, ISNA News Agency reported.

Speaking to reporters in Iran’s southern mine of Bandar Abbas from which uranium is explored, Salehi said, “we have extended lifespan of the mine since we explore and extract uranium simultaneously.”

As to a question on discovery of another mine for uranium exploration, he said, “we doing it in Saghand mine (in central Iran), but we have not extracted anything from which yet.”

The United Nations imposed the 4th resolution against Iran on June 9 in an attempt to force it to comply with international demands over its nuclear program. Twelve countries voted in favour – including crucially all five permanent members, Britain, China, France, Russia and the US. Brazil and Turkey voted against, saying sanctions would not have the desired effect. Lebanon abstained. The main thrust of the sanctions include financial curbs, an expanded arms embargo and warnings to UN member states to be vigilant about a range of Iranian activities. Iran’s national shipping company is specifically targeted, as are entities controlled by the Revolutionary Guards, the backbone of the Islamic regime. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps controls the nuclear program and has taken a more central role in running the country and the economy.

Iran insists that its enrichment activity are strictly for peaceful purposes, but its actions have raised suspicions in the West. It accuses Iran of seeking nuclear weapons.

Enriched uranium is a critical component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons. Low-enriched uranium for civil peaceful use has a lower than 20% concentration of 235U. Highly enriched uranium has a greater than 20% concentration of 235U or 233U. The fissile uranium in nuclear weapons usually contains 85% or more of 235U known as weapon(s)-grade, though for a crude, inefficient weapon 20% is sufficient (called weapon(s)-usable)