Iran attempted large-scale purchase of banned centrifuge magnets
FEB 14, 2013
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.026772
Washington Post : Researchers from the Institute for Science and International Security have uncovered evidence that Iran attempted to order 100 000 specialized magnets from China a year ago. The magnets, which are used in advanced centrifuges for uranium enrichment, are banned from export to Iran under UN sanctions. It is unclear if the purchase attempt was successful, but if it was, that number of magnets would allow Iran to build as many as 50 000 centrifuges, more than 5 times the number it currently has. The news increases international concerns that Iran is making significant progress toward developing nuclear weapons. And it may complicate Iran’s attempt to smooth negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding the country’s enriched uranium stockpile . However, an article in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists questions the ISIS analysis.
© 2013 American Institute of Physics
