Diplomats report that Iran is changing amounts of nuclear material into reactor fuel and is only one small step away from achieving weapons-grade uranium.
Associated Press reports that diplomats with knowledge of Iran’s nuclear development program have found the nation developing reactor fuel with small amounts of its 20-percent uranium. The 20-percent product is only a small technical step from developing uranium worthy for weapons, AP reports.
(SEE RELATED: Space cadet Ahmadinejad: Iranian president says, ‘I am ready’ to go into space)
Tehran has already proven its capabilities at developing weapons-grade uranium. In 2012, the country converted an estimated 220 pounds of 20-percent uranium into reactor fuel.
The significance is this: Diplomats believe Iran could have enough enriched uranium to build one nuclear bomb by the end of the summer, AP reports.
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Cheryl Chumley is a continuous news writer for The Washington Times. Previously, she was part of the start-up team for The Washington Times’ digital aggregation product, Times247. She’s also a 2008-2009 Robert Novak journalism fellow with The Phillips Foundation. She can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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