Sunday, February 9, 2014

Iran to Clear Nuclear Concerns with U.N. and IAEA

On Sunday, February 9, 2014, Iran took a step towards easing tensions between them and the U.N. and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  Iran was "ready to 'provide information and explanations' for experiments in a type of detonator that the agency says could be used to trigger a nuclear explosion."  The detonator concern was not a top priority in a 2011 IAEA report of "possible nuclear weapons concerns" regarding Iran.  The last several years symbolized inconclusiveness in terms of evidence against Iran and their nuclear programs.  The uranium enrichment facilities that operate currently in Iran are, according to Iran, used to produce fuel for nuclear reactors.  Upgrading to weapons-grade uranium would cause much concern, as that serves as the main armament of nuclear missiles and warheads.  Nuclear physicist Yousaf Butt defended Iran's detonators in saying that they "are commonly used in oil extraction and related work," adding that "experiments with them should not be surprising in oil-rich Iran."
On February 18th, the United States and several other world powers will meet with Iran in Vienna as they work out a pact that would limit uranium enrichment in Iran in exchange for lifting of all sanctions currently imposed on Iran. This is important because this event has the potential to strengthen Iranian relations with Israel, the Unites States, and the U.N.

http://townhall.com/news/world/2014/02/09/iran-un-agency-agree-to-expand-nuke-probe-n1792153

- Jack Mikolajczyk

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