Iran Lags on Advanced Enrichment Gear: Officials

Iran Lags on Advanced Enrichment Gear: Officials

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment complex, shown in 2005. The Persian Gulf nation might be unable yet to assemble and operate next-generation uranium enrichment centrifuges in large numbers, according to government and independent experts (Getty Images).

Observers believe Iran lacks the capability to build and use advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges in significant quantities, placing in question the machines' utility in accelerating a program some governments suspect is geared toward generating nuclear-weapon material, Arms Control Today reported in its latest edition (see GSN, April 4).
Iran planned to deploy two 164-centrifuge assemblies of its next-generation IR-2M and IR-4 machines in the experimental section of its Natanz uranium enrichment complex, the nation told the International Atomic Energy Agency in January (see GSN, Feb. 18). Tehran's enrichment program relies primarily on the P-1 centrifuge, which is based on an aging design vulnerable to technical failures.
Iran had so far only vetted cascades of as many as 20 advanced centrifuges, according to Arms Control Today.

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