FOXNews.com - U.S. & World - Iran Confirms It Took Key Nuclear Step

[westcor]

Iran Confirms It Took Key Nuclear Step

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran confirmed for the first time Monday that it converted 37 tons of raw uranium into gas, a key step ahead of enrichment, before it suspended all such activities in November under international pressure.

The confirmation means Tehran is in a position to quickly start enriching uranium if it chose to end its suspension of enrichment-related acitivies. It comes at a crucial time, with Europe trying in fragile negotiations to seal an agreement to ensure Iran's nuclear program does not produce nuclear weapons.

The Europeans agreed last year that Iran could finish converting the 37 tons. Iran had begun processing the material, mined from its own uranium resources, in a rushed attempt to do it just before the suspension.

Mohammad Saeedi (search), Deputy Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (search), told The Associated Press that Iran had processed the uranium into UF-4 gas.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155935,00.html

[0007]

1. Man, everyone is giving junior the bird these days.

[saigon68]

37. faux news-- THE OFFICIAL MEDIA OUTLET of the Bush Criminals

And their bosses, the NeoCon Corporate Racketeers.

[westcor]

2. Fox News sucks I know, but...

I just happened to hear that Iran is going to be starting their nuclear program up within the next few days. Is anyone else prediciting an invasion soon?? John Stewart did a while back, and I think he is going to be right. Fox news sucks...

[Amy6627]

3. I heard about 3 months ago, that June will be the month we

invade Iran. I think David Kay said it, but I could be wrong.

[burned]

4. Scott Ritter said it

I think.

[Amy6627]

5. Yes you are right! Here is the link

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8130.htm

[LiberallyInclined]

24. invade with WHAT?

wouldn't they need a WHOLE HELLUVA LOT MORE troops to go into Iran?

plus- if we go into another Arab/Islamic country- i predict that the house of saud will fall.

[rooboy]

25. You know those fat guys sitting in lounge chairs on the Mexican border?

that was their desert training - they ship out next month :)

[BadNews]

26. I Predict bombings. Lots and lots of bombings. No boots on the ground.NT

[rooboy]

27. No disagreement here.... n/t

[LiberallyInclined]

29. If we start bombing Iran-

they could send a million troops across the Iraqi border, and attack us in Iraq.
not to mention my aforementioned point about the stability of the house of saud if we go after another Islamic country.

[megatherium]

30. You're right. All the talk about war is just intimidation.

We're trying to intimidate the Iranians into giving up their nuclear program. They're not impressed.

[BadNews]

36. They Could But......

It would be much easier for the US military to entrench and defend Iraq while bombing the hell out of lines of tanks and marching men trying to invade the country. I really don't think they would get too far into Iraq against both an entrenched US military, and continuous air strikes.

Compare that to trying to invade conquer, and hold Iran. I don't think there will be boots on the ground in Iran. Rather, we may see many more days of shock and awe from the air to destroy their air force, air defenses, and nuclear plants. If the Iranian military capacity is sufficiently reduced, Saudi Arabia becomes the strongest military in the region.

Doesn't that benefit Israel and Saudi Arabia? Both are * friends.

[Frederik]

39. Yup

they're going to bomb them into regime change, according to flawless neo-con logic...

[maxrandb]

32. HMMMMM! Could this be why there's such a ruch to confirm Bolton?

[Amy6627]

35. Most likely. n/t

[Frederik]

38. Scott Ritter

said it. He got wind of it from someone close to the Bush junta.

And Sy Hersh said that it's coming soon too.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. Can anyone confirm these stories in the middle east media?

MSM is fast and loose with "stop the bad guys, Mr. Bush!" but short on "Mr. Bush is the bad guy".

[hang a left]

9. confirmed

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&ncl=http://www.geo.tv/main_files/world.aspx%3Fid%

IRAN TO RESUME ENRICHMENT
Special Broadcasting Service, Australia - 29 minutes ago
Iran has announced it will resume its uranium enrichment program within days, defying an agreement to suspend its nuclear activities. ...

Iran Confirms Uranium-To-Gas Conversion
ABC News - 1 hour ago
Wearing protective clothes, an Iranian security personel walks in the Uranium Conversion Facility, prior to the arrival of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami ...

Iran Confirms Uranium-To-Gas Conversion
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 1 hour ago
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran confirmed on Monday that it converted 37 tons of raw uranium into gas, its first acknowledgment ...

Iran to resume some nuke activities
Japan Today, Japan - 1 hour ago
TEHRAN — Iran will resume some sensitive nuclear activities "in the next few days," an Iranian official negotiating with the EU over the Islamic republic's ...

US reiterates support for EU-3's nuclear talks with Iran
Xinhua, China - 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON, May 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States said on Monday that it will continue its support for the European Community to have negotiations with Iran ...

Iran confirms it converted uranium into gas
Jerusalem Post, Israel - 3 hours ago
In an announcement that is likely to increase pressure on Europe, Iran confirmed for the first time Monday that it converted 37 tons of raw uranium into gas, a ...

Iran 'to resume nuclear activity'
BBC News, UK - 4 hours ago
By Frances Harrison. Iran says it will resume uranium enrichment activities within the next few days, in a move which could put talks with Europe in jeopardy. ...

International News Iran issues new threat amid stalled nuclear ...
MSNBC - 4 hours ago
Iran on Monday said it will resume enriching uranium within days and stated for the first time that it already has converted 37 tons of the radioactive metal ...

Iran to resume some nuclear activities 'in days'
Forbes - 5 hours ago
TEHRAN (AFX) - Iran will resume some sensitive nuclear activities 'in the next few days', a negotiator with the EU over the Islamic Republic's controversial ...

Isfahan UCF to restart in days: IAEO official
Tehran Times, Iran - 5 hours ago
TEHRAN (MNA) – Mohammad Saeedi, the deputy director for planning and international affairs of the Iran Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO), announced on Monday ...

Iran says to resume enrichment-related work in days
Boston Globe, MA - 6 hours ago
By Paul Hughes | May 9, 2005. TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Monday it would resume uranium enrichment-related activities within ...

Iran may resume some nuclear activities
Independent Online, South Africa - 6 hours ago
Tehran - Iran will resume some sensitive uranium enrichment activities "in the next few days", a negotiator with the European Union over the Islamic republic's ...

Iran to resume enrichment-related work "within days"
Reuters AlertNet, UK - 7 hours ago
TEHRAN, May 9 (Reuters) - Iran said on Monday it would resume uranium enrichment-related activities within days, a move the United States and the European ...

Iran Closer To Uranium Enrichment
CBS News - 7 hours ago
(AP) Iran confirmed for the first time Monday that it converted 37 tons of raw uranium into gas, a key step ahead of enrichment, before it suspended all such ...

Iran Confirms Uranium-To-Gas Conversion
ABC News - 7 hours ago
President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk on his private residence compound in the Odinsovsky district outside Moscow Sunday, May 8, 2005. ...

Iran Converted Raw Uranium into Gas
Scotsman, UK - 9 hours ago
Iran confirmed today it had converted 37 tons of raw uranium into gas needed to enrich uranium just before suspending all uranium enrichment related activities ...

Iran raises new proposals on nuclear deadlock with EU
People's Daily Online, China - 23 hours ago
Iran said Sunday that it was preparing a draft bill to ratify the Additional Protocol of the Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as it was trying to press the ...

Iran to resume nuclear work at Isfahan site
Indian Express, India - May 8, 2005
TEHRAN, MAY 8: Iran said on Sunday it was getting ready to resume some uranium enrichment-related work, despite warnings from Washington and the European Union ...

Iran raises new proposals on nuclear deadlock with EU
Xinhua, China - May 8, 2005
by Zhang Shengping, Chen Wendi. TEHRAN, May 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran said Sunday that it was preparing a draft bill to ratify the Additional ...

Iran has “legitimate right” to nuclear technology, Kharazi ...
Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates - May 8, 2005
WASHINGTON - Iran has a “legitimate right” to nuclear technology and has no plans to permanently halt uranium enrichment, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi ...

Foreign Ministry set to write Additional Protocol bill draft
Tehran Times, Iran - May 8, 2005
TEHRAN (IRNA) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry started preparing a draft of the Additional Protocol bill to be presented to the state commission. ...

Iranians Call for End to Nuke Negotiations
ABC News - May 8, 2005
By ALI AKBAR DAREINI Associated Press Writer. TEHRAN, Iran May 8, 2005 — Iranian hard-liners on Sunday called for an end to nuclear ...

Iranian hard-liners say nuclear talks with Europeans futile
Ha'aretz, Israel - May 8, 2005
By The Associated Press. Iranian hard-liners Sunday called for an end to nuclear negotiations with European powers and opposed any ...

3D75818

[Huckebein the Raven]

28. Here's Aljazeera's report on the story:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F10C81BD-D204-44F7-95D5-BCB6E302BE9A.htm

[Frederik]

40. O crap

This is obviously what they needed Bolton in the UN for. This is going to the Security Council where the Russians and Chinese will refuse any type of sanctions. Followed by US-Israeli bombing this fall, if my crystal ball is correct.

[lovuian]

7. Scott you were off by a month... But he was pretty right

Its going to be soon!!!

[yojon]

8. Is this guy Saeedi a plant?

[leesa]

10. And is there a reason Iran cannot have nukes?

The US and Israel both have them in massive numbers and they are about as rogue as countries can get.

[megatherium]

31. Some Iranian mullah is supposed to have suggested that nuking Israel

would be a good idea; that Iran would win a nuclear war because Israel is very small in area and only a few bombs could destroy the entire country, while Iran is very big.

[Moderator]

11. westcor, as per DU copyright rules

When referencing copyrighted work, post a short excerpt (not exceeding 4 paragraphs.)
Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

[HeeBGBz]

12. Iran Confirms Uranium-To-Gas Conversion

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050510/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear/nc:716

snip

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran confirmed on Monday that it converted 37 tons of raw uranium into gas, its first acknowledgment of advances made in the production process for enriched uranium before it formally suspended nuclear activity in November under international pressure.

The announcement, which means Tehran is in a position to quickly start enriching uranium if it lifts the suspension, comes as European negotiators are trying to seal an agreement to ensure that Iran's nuclear program does not produce weapons.

[Inland]

13. Recommended for Greatest Page! nt

[jaxx]

14. Just what Israel needs

to press dubya into sending in our troops to bomb the crap out of Iran. One more thing falling into place. I read that dubya is on Iraq about getting their government settled by June 5 or 6.......and those dates are the proposed invasion of Iran. I know you can't believe all you read, but it sounds like spreading the gospel of democracy to me.

[HeeBGBz]

15. Is this link working for you?

It's not coming up right for me for some reason.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050510/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear/nc:716

[babylonsister]

16. Nope. nt

[Junkdrawer]

17. Link

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050510/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear

[HeeBGBz]

18. Thanks.

It wouldn't let me do that...

[benburch]

19. Dear gods! What would a leak of 37t of UF6 do to the environment?

This is a VERY stable molecule. It would spread worldwide.

I really hope Israel does not do anything rash that might cause it to leak.

[ConcernedCanuk]

20. I still don't quite get this - -

.
.
.

How can countries WITH nukes justify telling other countries THEY can't have them?

NO - I don't want more nukes in the world, but I can't follow the logic that allows some nations to have thousands, and then get all unglued when another nation gets the CAPABILITY to make a dozen or so

What's the big frigging deal?

or just an excuse to go blow some other country to shit

'specially if'n dey got oil - hmm? :shrug:

[BadNews]

23. Simple...

countries with nukes hold a high trump card. It means you can win any given hand. It also makes your bluffs more credible as your opponent knows that if you play the nuke card, they cannot win.

Currently, most trump is accounted for. If you had a hand with most the high cards, would you want to re-deal? Obviously, if you are dealt an awful hand (Iran) you would love a re-deal. In a game where the stakes are life and death, you would probably be willing to cheat in order to get a couple aces. (Perhaps get another player to slip one or two under the table,)

It is in the best interests of America to at least account for all the nuclear cards and try to keep them out of opponents' hands. It is in Iranian interests to get their hands on some trump.

[hector459]

21. Please explain: US won't talk to N.Korea unless six party; US won't talk

to Iran with six party or even more? I don't get it.

[BadNews]

22. In N. Korea, all 6 parties are applying the pressure....

this administration wants to see.

In Iran, only America and Israel are applying real pressure. The Europeans are trying to play both sides into a compromise. That is not what * wants in Iran.

[woosh]

33. Still on track for that June attack

[unhappycamper]

34. Iran should do the same thing the Saudi's did: plant radioactive

dirty bombs around their oil fields and refineries. And make sure Our Dear Leader, Dickie & the world press knows about it. No sense telling the Murikan press - they wouldn't report it anyway.

That's about the only way I see the Iranians can avoid bombing.

[Clovis Sangrail]

41. source?

Iran should do the same thing the Saudi's did: plant dirty bombs around their oil fields and refineries.

The only thing I've seen about this is a review of an as-yet unreleased book from Gerald Prosner claiming it to be the case.
... that and a whole lot of people referencing that review.

Do you know of any other sources that verify the Saudi's have done this?

[radwriter0555]

42. OHMYGAWD nuclear POWER PLANTS!!! BOMB THEM! BOMB THEM!

for NOT conceding to use archaic fuel oil for energy production!

Bush is gonna be pisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssed.