Iran has spent plenty of time researching the construction of nuclear weapons technology but a report compiled by 16 American intelligence agencies clearly stated in 2011 that the country was not actively attempting to actually build those weapons at this time.
According to the report which was revealed by the Los Angeles Times Iran stopped attempting to build nuclear bombs in 2003 and the country is now only enriching uranium at low levels (20% purity).
Because of the low level uranium enrichment in the country American officials don’t believe that the countries active weapons program is still in operation. In order to create weapons grade nuclear weapons the country would need to be enriching uranium at levels closer to 90% purity.
National Intelligence Director James Clapper said last week:
“I think they are keeping themselves in a position to make that decision [to build a bomb]. But there are certain things they have not yet done and have not done for some time.”
In the meantime Israel is taking the lower levels of uranium enrichment serious and have promised to take action should the country move towards any type of nuclear weapons building strategy. Some officials in the country have already proposed air strikes in an attempt to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Israel’s rhetoric has strengthened in the last week after Iran refused to provide inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency access to the Parchin military site. Officials wanted to determine if explosives tests were aimed at creating nuclear technology.
The IAEA released a report of it’s own in November that raised “serious concerns” about the “possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program.”
While U.S. agencies have not seen a “decision-making structure” built around creating nuclear weapons in Iran avid Albright, who heads the nonprofit Institute for Science and International Security says the countries centrifuges could allow Iran to build nuclear weapons in as little as six months if they move in that direction.
Do you think Israel, the United States and other allies need to put an end to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure or should the country be allowed to continue it’s efforts while enriching uranium at low purity levels?
