U.S. cracks down on Iran uranium production, nuclear plant

 

FILE PHOTO: The Iranian flag flutters in front the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna, Austria March 4, 2019. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States acted on Friday to force Iran to stop producing low-enriched uranium and expanding its only nuclear power plant, intensifying its campaign aimed at halting Tehran's ballistic missile programme and curbing its regional influence.

 

At the same time, the Trump administration renewed waivers of U.S. sanctions allowing Russia, China, France and Britain to pursue programs designed to prevent Iran from reactivating a defunct nuclear weapons programme, the State Department said in a statement.

 

Instead of granting the waivers for 180 days, the administration will shorten their term to 90 days, the statement said.

 

Under the 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers, Iran agreed to transform its nuclear facilities at Arak and Fordow in ways that would make it much more difficult to use them to produce fissile material for nuclear weapons.

 

The four nations' ability to continue that work, however, was compromised by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision last year to abandon the agreement, which was designed to limit Iran's nuclear programme in return for economic sanctions relief.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-05-04

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        Solar  versus    Nuclear

 

The allure of nuclear power is that it can produce large quantities of energy from small quantities of fuel. A single gram of uranium can produce 3,800 kWh of electricity using fast breeder reactors (the most efficient nuclear technology). However a uranium atom can only be fissioned once, and is then radioactive waste. A silicon solar cell can absorb photons repeatedly to generate electricity.

 

Over it’s lifetime a single gram of silicon as used in a 17% efficient PV silicon solar cell can produce 3,700  kWh of electricity without releasing any life threatening toxic and radioactive substances.

 

Gram for gram silicon and uranium produce similar amounts of electricity. The earth contains 5,000 times more silicon than uranium!

 

 

Source: World Resources Institute.

Now try to make bombs with solar panels.

Everything the USA does to either Iran or North Korea only speeds up those Countries to manufacture, Deploy and retain weapons of mass destruction in order to protect themselves. Threats and sanctions are total failures ultimately change must come from within. 

When the USA becomes a democracy and not some industrial lead Monolith them it can lecture others.

Even the biggest kid on the block gets knocked down now and again.

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

force Iran to stop producing low-enriched uranium and expanding its only nuclear power plant

Meanwhile Trump through Kushner will be providing Saudi Arabia with nuclear power plant technology and likely hardware to go with it.

So much inconsistencies in his foreign policies.

Food for thought...

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/trumps-iran-sanctions-could-backfire/2019/04/09/61674f50-5b06-11e9-842d-7d3ed7eb3957_story.html?utm_term=.c016e32956c6

Meanwhile Trump through Kushner will be providing Saudi Arabia with nuclear power plant technology and likely hardware to go with it.

So much inconsistencies in his foreign policies.

Providing a nuclear power plant is not quite the same as providing the means to enrich uranium. But the anti-trump sentiment is clear

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

2 minutes ago, Sealbash said:

Providing a nuclear power plant is not quite the same as providing the means to enrich uranium. But the anti-trump sentiment is clear

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

KSA is required to sign a nuclear non proliferation treaty prior to the supply of civilian nuclear technology transfer. In secrecy trump admin has completely ignored the requirement In addition, to date KSA, has refused to give up it's right for enrichment of uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel which can be used to develop nuclear weapons. Now you have some facts do you still admire trump Saudi nuclear previously secret (illegal?) nuclear tech transfer arrangements?

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-authorized-nuclear-energy-companies-to-share-technological-information-with-saudi-arabia/2019/03/28/1b5f0816-5180-11e9-8d28-f5149e5a2fda_story.html?utm_term=.74a244f7fb90

KSA is required to sign a nuclear non proliferation treaty prior to the supply of civilian nuclear technology transfer. In secrecy trump admin has completely ignored the requirement In addition, to date KSA, has refused to give up it's right for enrichment of uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel which can be used to develop nuclear weapons. Now you have some facts do you still admire trump Saudi nuclear previously secret (illegal?) nuclear tech transfer arrangements?
 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-authorized-nuclear-energy-companies-to-share-technological-information-with-saudi-arabia/2019/03/28/1b5f0816-5180-11e9-8d28-f5149e5a2fda_story.html?utm_term=.74a244f7fb90

What technology has been transferred? Your link is just another Washington Post scare tactic about something that is possible, but has not happened.


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1 hour ago, simple1 said:

KSA is required to sign a nuclear non proliferation treaty prior to the supply of civilian nuclear technology transfer. In secrecy trump admin has completely ignored the requirement In addition, to date KSA, has refused to give up it's right for enrichment of uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel which can be used to develop nuclear weapons. Now you have some facts do you still admire trump Saudi nuclear previously secret (illegal?) nuclear tech transfer arrangements?

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-authorized-nuclear-energy-companies-to-share-technological-information-with-saudi-arabia/2019/03/28/1b5f0816-5180-11e9-8d28-f5149e5a2fda_story.html?utm_term=.74a244f7fb90

For sure, it will be a powerful incentive for Iran not to engage in nuclear weapons development! ????

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

Food for thought...

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/trumps-iran-sanctions-could-backfire/2019/04/09/61674f50-5b06-11e9-842d-7d3ed7eb3957_story.html?utm_term=.c016e32956c6

"Like so many Trump administration foreign policy gambits, the Iran squeeze looks like a tactical campaign that’s in search of a strategy." 

Exactly.

Trump's campaign to remove Maduro as president of Venezuela follows the same strategy and just as unproductive.

A campaign without a strategy will tatter in the winds of time.

1 hour ago, Sealbash said:

What technology has been transferred? Your link is just another Washington Post scare tactic about something that is possible, but has not happened.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

More than likely wasting my time. However, if you had read the link I provided you would know there were seven, in secret, previously authorised transfers of nuclear IP to KSA out of sight from Congressional overview. I don't know US law, but one would have thought such action is a breach of national security regulations.

2 hours ago, Sealbash said:

Providing a nuclear power plant is not quite the same as providing the means to enrich uranium. But the anti-trump sentiment is clear

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Practically it is.

In this case its science vs trumpism.

Uranium requires enrichment to 3-5% to be useful as a fuel in a power plant. That requires in part centrifuges. The major difference between nuclear fuel for power plants and weaponized nuclear material is the latter requires much further enrichment using many more (3-4x?) centrifuges. So expect S.A. will need equipment to enrich nuclear fuel in the same fashion that Iran has for its nuclear power plant. 

What Obama's nuclear deal with Iran did was to remove and ban the additional centrifuges required for further enrichment into weaponized nuclear material. Thus, stopping Iran's ability to make nuclear material for bombs and missiles. But Iran was not prevented from making and using nuclear fuel for electrical production.

 

U.S. cracks down on Iran uranium production, nuclear plant

Russia is a major source of yellow cake that Iran relies on to enrich uranium for power plant electrical production.

• https://en.trend.az/iran/nuclearp/2469961.html
• https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/02/07/1321484/iran-receives-yellowcake-enriched-uranium-from-russia-photos
• https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2018/08/iran-getting-low-enriched-uranium-back-from-russia.html

 

Oil rich Kazakhstan also provides Iran with yellow cake.

• https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/02/25/512023/Iran-Kazakhstan-AEOI-Salehi-yellowcake-concentrated-uranium

Will Trump crack down on Russia and Kazakhstan?

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

"Like so many Trump administration foreign policy gambits, the Iran squeeze looks like a tactical campaign that’s in search of a strategy." 

Exactly.

Trump's campaign to remove Maduro as president of Venezuela follows the same strategy and just as unproductive.

A campaign without a strategy will tatter in the winds of time.

sounds like the whole of the last 75 years, 

 "United States acted on Friday to force Iran to stop producing low-enriched uranium and expanding its only nuclear power plant, intensifying its campaign aimed at halting Tehran's ballistic missile programme and curbing its regional influence."

 

Am I dim? I don't understand what the US are going to do to force Iran to stop. Is the clue in the next paragraph?

 

"At the same time, the Trump administration renewed waivers of U.S. sanctions allowing Russia, China, France and Britain to pursue programs designed to prevent Iran from reactivating a defunct nuclear weapons programme, the State Department said in a statement."

 

Is this the action they have taken ie extending the waivers for European countries to work in Iran?

 

Why doesn't;t America just wait until they invade Iran? This year or next, it cannot be far away....I suppose they haven't invaded so far because they don't want to invade Iran at the same time they are invading Venezuela

16 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

 "United States acted on Friday to force Iran to stop producing low-enriched uranium and expanding its only nuclear power plant, intensifying its campaign aimed at halting Tehran's ballistic missile programme and curbing its regional influence."

 

Am I dim? I don't understand what the US are going to do to force Iran to stop. Is the clue in the next paragraph?

 

"At the same time, the Trump administration renewed waivers of U.S. sanctions allowing Russia, China, France and Britain to pursue programs designed to prevent Iran from reactivating a defunct nuclear weapons programme, the State Department said in a statement."

 

Is this the action they have taken ie extending the waivers for European countries to work in Iran?

 

Why doesn't;t America just wait until they invade Iran? This year or next, it cannot be far away....I suppose they haven't invaded so far because they don't want to invade Iran at the same time they are invading Venezuela

A. The united States could not invade Iran. it could cripple the Iranian military but the minute American boots hit the ground the body bags would start returning to the USA.

B. Venezuela would be easier for the USA to invade but again i do not think the possible losses are worth the American lives.

C. The current administration has done so much to alienate even its staunchest Western Allies make it doubtful the US has any friends for foreign adventure Outside of Israel and Saudi Arabia all their alliances look shakey. The biggest kid on the block has few real friends left.

6 minutes ago, Kiwiken said:

A. The united States could not invade Iran. it could cripple the Iranian military but the minute American boots hit the ground the body bags would start returning to the USA.

B. Venezuela would be easier for the USA to invade but again i do not think the possible losses are worth the American lives.

C. The current administration has done so much to alienate even its staunchest Western Allies make it doubtful the US has any friends for foreign adventure Outside of Israel and Saudi Arabia all their alliances look shakey. The biggest kid on the block has few real friends left.

D. Trump is a coward.