Iran Installs More Centrifuges

Iran has installed two additional “cascades” of centrifuges at its uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, Reuters reported today.  Each of the new underground cascades consists of 164 linked centrifuges, doubling the number at the site which already had two above-ground cascades (see GSN, Feb. 2).

“The plan is start dry-spinning the cascades within days and then start feeding them with [uranium hexafluoride gas],” a European Union diplomat in Vienna told Reuters.  The installation follows publicly announced Iranian plans to have 3,000 centrifuges in place this year with an ultimate goal of having 54,000 later.

“The Iranians appear to intend to have about six cascades (about 1,000 centrifuges) installed by the spring, and the rest of the 3,000 by around June,” the diplomat said (Mark Heinrich, Reuters/Washington Post, Feb. 5).

Meanwhile, Iran hosted a diplomatic visit Saturday to its uranium conversion facility at Isfahan.  The visiting officials came from Nonaligned Movement nations, including Algeria, Cuba, Egypt and Malaysia, the New York Times reported.  The diplomats, all serving in capacities related to the International Atomic Energy in Vienna, were accompanied by nearly 100 journalists.

The visit was intended to display Iranian transparency and the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities, said Iran’s IAEA Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh.

“In fact we have representatives from all over the world,” he said.  “We have decided to have them come here and see for themselves” (Nazila Fathi, New York Times I, Feb. 4).

U.S. officials, who consistently argue that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, expressed skepticism of the diplomatic visit.

“Instead of inviting IAEA ambassadors, Iran should invite IAEA inspectors,” said U.S. IAEA Ambassador Gregory Schulte.  “Iran should give them access to all the documents, nuclear facilities and individuals that it has refused to provide access to in the last three years.”

He urged Iran to comply with a U.N. Security Council resolution that demanded Iran freeze its nuclear activities.

“Suspending them would build confidence,” he said.  “Showcasing them does not” (David Sanger, New York Times II, Feb. 3).

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