http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/ en avagyan@isis-online.org Copyright 2010 2010-03-01T18:59:01-05:00 http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/detail/iran-moves-leu-tank-back-underground-in-the-main-natanz-facility/ http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/iran-moves-leu-tank-back-underground-in-the-main-natanz-facility/#When:17:59:01Z Reuters is reporting that Iran has moved the LEU tank, previously brought to the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) in Natanz, back to its original underground location in main Natanz Feul Enrichment Facility. It is still unknown how much of the close to 2000kg of the LEU was used in the PFEP for further enrichment to 19.75% LEU which Iran claims will supply fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR). 2010-03-01T17:59:01-05:00 http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/detail/february-18-2010-iaea-safeguards-report-on-iran-released/ http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/february-18-2010-iaea-safeguards-report-on-iran-released/#When:16:07:00Z The IAEA has released the latest Safeguards Report on Iran’s nuclear program. ISIS will be issuing an analysis of the new data in the IAEA report later on today. You can find the full text of this and all other IAEA reports in our Documents section.  February 18, 2010 Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran Update: The ISIS analysis of the IAEA safeguards report on Iran is now available: IAEA Iran Report: Enrichment at Natanz improving; entire LEU tank moved to PFEP; no progress on weaponization 2010-02-18T16:07:00-05:00 http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/detail/france-russia-and-united-states-write-to-amano-on-iran/ http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/france-russia-and-united-states-write-to-amano-on-iran/#When:18:46:01Z Politico has posted the text of a letter signed by the ambassadors of France, Russia and the United States to the IAEA in Vienna expressing regret about Iran’s decision to begin enrichment to 20 percent and reiterating support for the LEU swap arrangement proposed by the IAEA in October.  Russia’s signature indicates more stiffening toward Iran and the possibility that China may be the only holdout against stronger sanctions. 2010-02-16T18:46:01-05:00 http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/detail/busting-the-members-at-the-core-of-irans-smuggling-networks/ http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/busting-the-members-at-the-core-of-irans-smuggling-networks/#When:17:05:01Z ISIS has released four case studies detailing incidents of illicit trade by Iran as well as a summary piece on the efforts by the United States to arrest Iranians at the core of the Iranian regime’s smuggling efforts. The case involving Majid Kakavand is particularly timely. The U.S. is currently trying to extradite Kakavand from France. The judge has stated that he will make a decision on February 17th on whether to grant the U.S. request for extradition. Busting the Members at the Core of Iran’s Smuggling Networks :for Nuclear, Missile, and Conventional Military Goods by David Albright, Paul Brannan, and Andrea Scheel Stricker February 16, 2010 Inventive U.S. Sting Operation Catches Iran-Based Military Equipment Smuggler David Albright, Paul Brannan and Andrea Scheel Stricker February 16, 2010 Former Iranian Ambassador Arrested in Britain for Assisting Iran-Directed Smuggling Scheme David Albright, Paul Brannan, and Andrea Scheel Stricker February 16, 2010 Middleman Majid Kakavand Arrested for Directing Malaysia-Based Iranian Illicit Procurement Scheme David Albright, Paul Brannan, and Andrea Scheel Stricker February 16, 2010 Arrest Made in Germany of Core Iranian Procurement Agent David Albright, Paul Brannan, and Andrea Scheel Stricker February 16, 2010 2010-02-16T17:05:01-05:00 http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/detail/irans-enrichment-for-the-tehran-research-reactor-update/ http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/irans-enrichment-for-the-tehran-research-reactor-update/#When:21:07:00Z Today Reuters and the Washington Post reported that Iran has announced that it has began enrichment of LEU to 19.75% in order to produce fuel for the Tehran research reactor. The enrichment is taking place at the Natanz pilot plant with a single cascade of 164 centrifuges. ISIS takes a look at the technical aspects of process and the wider proliferation concerns. See the full report: Iran’s enrichment for the Tehran Research Reactor:  Update 2010-02-09T21:07:00-05:00 http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/detail/irans-recent-statements-about-production-of-fuel-for-the-tehran-research-re/ http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/irans-recent-statements-about-production-of-fuel-for-the-tehran-research-re/#When:15:44:00Z Iranian President Ahmadinejad recently stated that he had instructed the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran to prepare for the production of 19.75% enriched uranium in order to produce fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor should the IAEA brokered fuel swap deal fail to take place. Following Ahmadinejad’s statements were those of Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the AEOI, who stated that Iran would also build ten new enrichment facilities as part of its nuclear program. What are the associated technical and political problems, challenges and dangers both for Iran and the international community should these plans be put in motion? ISIS has released an analysis of the various possibilities: ISIS Review of Iranian Statements 2010-02-08T15:44:00-05:00 http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/detail/annual-threat-assessment-of-the-us-intelligence-community/ http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/annual-threat-assessment-of-the-us-intelligence-community/#When:19:45:00Z The report released on February 2, 2010 by the office of the Director of National Intelligence contains a new analysis of proliferation threats including North Korea and the Iranian nuclear program. Annual Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community 2010-02-02T19:45:00-05:00 http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/detail/qanswers-regarding-iranian-document-outlook-on-special-neutron-related-acti/ http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/qanswers-regarding-iranian-document-outlook-on-special-neutron-related-acti/#When:17:46:00Z ISIS first reported on the Iranian neutron initiator documents when the Times of London broke the story on December 14, 2009. The reports were followed by intense discussions on the authenticity, nature, significance of the documents and Iran’s intentions for its nuclear program. ISIS has now released a detailed analysis on the contents of these documents. Read the full report: Questions and Answers regarding Iranian document: “Outlook for special neutron-related activities over the next 4 years” 2010-01-05T17:46:00-05:00 http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/detail/iran-seeking-uranium-ore-from-kazakhstan/ http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/iran-seeking-uranium-ore-from-kazakhstan/#When:11:27:00Z The AP’s George Jahn is reporting today an effort by Iran to import clandestinely 1,350 tons of purified uranium ore from Kazakhstan.  The information is contained in a brief intelligence report authored by an IAEA member state and obtained by Jahn.  That Iran would be seeking a new source of uranium ore is not surprising, given how low its existing stocks are believed to be.  According to the November 2004 IAEA report, Iran purchased 531 t of uranium oxide (U3O8) from South Africa in the 1970s.  This is the equivalent of 448 t of uranium in the form of uranium hexafluoride.  Iran has already processed at Esfahan some 366 t of uranium in the form of UF6; its remaining stock is possibly reserved by Iran for the operation of the Arak heavy water reactor when it is complete.  This is reflected in the operation of the Esfahan conversion facility which has operated infrequently or at low levels over the last year.  One final note:  It is important to distinguish between uranium ore, which Iran is running low on, and Iran’s stocks of converted UF6 which are plentiful and sufficient to maintain Natanz at existing rates of enrichment for decades. 2009-12-30T11:27:00-05:00 http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/detail/another-resignation-in-irans-nuclear-establishment/ http://www.isisnucleariran.org/news/another-resignation-in-irans-nuclear-establishment/#When:13:21:00Z Last July it was reported that Iran’s longtime head of the Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI), Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, submitted his resignation following the upheaval and government crackdown associated with Iran’s June 12 elections; he was also known to be close to opposition leader Mir Hussein Moussavi.  Aghazadeh was succeeded by Ali Akbar Saleh.  Now comes word that Dr Mohammad Saeedi, the deputy head of AEOI, submitted his resignation earlier this month.  Meir Javedanfar suggests that Saeedi’s resignation reflects his frustration with Iran’s internal turmoil and notes that he has been replaced by Saeed Jalili, whom he describes as “far less capable in terms of diplomatic skills.” The sobering conclusion is that while the United States and its European partners appear to have decided that diplomacy, at least for now, may have run its course, Iran’s nuclear negotiators have reached a similar conclusion.  2009-12-18T13:21:00-05:00