Iran's Nuclear Program: Recent Developments

Abstract

Revelations about Iran's capability to produce enriched uranium - the fissile material for a nuclear weapon prompted a flurry of inspections, diplomatic missions and rhetoric in mid-2003 regarding Iran's compliance with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) most recent findings reportedly detail two enrichment programs (centrifuges and lasers) and the separation of plutonium, another fissile material, in small quantities. Although the IAEA has stated previously that Iran has not met all of its NPT obligations, it has not yet declared Iran in violation of the NPT. On November 20-21, 2003, the IAEA Board of Governors will meet to discuss Iran. Meanwhile, Iran agreed on November 10 to sign the Additional Protocol, which contains provisions for enhanced inspections. This report, which will be updated as needed, analyzes the significance of the IAEA s findings for a possible Iranian nuclear weapons program. See also CRS Report RL30551, Iran: Arms and Weapons of Mass Destruction Suppliers.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 12, 2003
Accession Number
ADA477843

Entities

People

  • Sharon Squassoni

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Arms Control Treaties
  • Centrifuges
  • Fissile Materials
  • Heavy Water
  • Materials
  • North Korea
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Nuclear Fuels
  • Nuclear Materials
  • Nuclear Reactors
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Production
  • United States
  • Weapons
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy