Questions about Iran and their nuclear program

[underpants]

It was my understanding that the issue of Iran having a nuclear bomb (lets call it that for brevity) is NOT a part of their energy making program. They have reactors that are being built that will produce electricity and there is no doubt that that is what they will do and all they can do. There IS some doubt as to whether the Iranians are are ALSO enriching uranium that could be used to make nuclear weapons but that is done aside from the regular process in other facilities.

Is that correct?

News coverage of this seems to take leaps and bounds around establishing that we are not talking about just an energy system (which they have every right to have) and the implication, to my ear, is that any reactor can just be switched over to make nuclear bombs (as if there is a conveyor belt with bombs).

[bananas]

1. They are enriching uranium

They are also mining uranium - they have the complete fuel cycle within their borders. And they will be able to make a bomb in 5-10 years, if they want to.

[mmonk]

2. I believe they are supposedly 5 to 10 years away from that ability

(being able to enrich uranium to that level). I have no doubt they want to now since they are in our crosshairs.

[HereSince1628]

3. IIRCThey announced their capacity to enrich uranium using

a small cascade of centrifuges. To get to bomb grade they will need more centrifuges but the announcement implies that they mastered that part of the necessary technology.

Frankly, based on recent performance of the US intelligence agencies I don't think anyone here REALLY knows what Iran is doing. Of course that didn't stop Cheney and his merry band from making shit up in order to invade Iraq.

[bananas]

4. The Federation of American Scientists has a little calculator

to help figure out how long it will take them to enrich enough uranium to make a bomb.

http://www.fas.org/cgi-bin/ucountdown.pl

Uranium Enrichment Calculator

How long does it take to enrich enough Uranium to make a nuclear weapon if one already has an enrichment cascade and consistently adds centrifuges to that cascade?

[underpants]

5. Okay, but we ARE talking about two different things right?

There is the regular nuclear plant operation and then there is a whole other process of making bomb quality material which has nothing to do with the plant though it could be done in the same facility...right?

[bananas]

6. Wrong, it's the same thing. nt

edit for clarity.

[bananas]

7. Not sure what you're trying to say

"a whole other process of making bomb quality material which has nothing to do with the plant though it could be done in the same facility"
What???
It can be done in the same facility - it's the same thing.
The only difference is whether inspectors are watching.