Iran’s Nuclear Program: Status and Implications Olli Heinonen Belfer Center for Science and...
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Transcript of Iran’s Nuclear Program: Status and Implications Olli Heinonen Belfer Center for Science and...
Iran’s Nuclear Program: Status and Implications
Olli HeinonenBelfer Center for Science and International AffairsHarvard Kennedy School 19 November, 2013
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities
Mining Gcchine Saghand Milling Gcchine Ardakan Conversion Isfahan Enrichment Natanz Fordow
Fuel Fabrication Isfahan
Reactors TRR Bushehr IR-40 Others, planned
Nuclear Infrastructure
Iran has not adhered to the resolutions of the UN Security Council, but continued to build the nuclear program including the supporting infrastructure
- Iran continues to manufacture centrifuges and their components
- Iran is increasing the production of key raw materials (zirconium, heavy water, high strength aluminum), but depending still on imports (maraging steel, instrumentation)
The net result: Iran is increasing its nuclear capabilities, but the international community knows less about them
20 % UF6 Is Not Medium Enriched Uranium
Production of Weapons Grade Material
Production of 1 Significant Quantity (SQ) of weapons grade uranium from natural uranium requires about 5000 Separative Work Unit (SWU) of enrichment effort
SQ-- The approximate quantity of nuclear material required to manufacture the first nuclear weapon taking into account the manufacturing losses.
Nuclear Material Stockpiles
Current stock of UF6
- Natural uranium ca 425 metric tons
- 3-5 % enriched uranium ca 7.1. metric tons
- 20 % enriched uranium ca 200 kg
Quantity of concern
- 10 metric tons
- 1.3 metric tons
- 250 kg
Enrichment Capacity
Natanz and Fordow 18500 IR-1 centrifuges
Natanz 1000 IR-2m centrifuges
Total number of centrifuges and rotors produced and their locations are not known
Break out Scenarios
There are various scenarios available starting with feeding of natural, 3-5 % or 20 % enriched UF6, in Natanz, Fordow, or elsewhere to produce weapons grade, 90 % enriched uranium.
Break out Times for 90 % UF6
Examples of scenarios- Use all current centrifuges
in Natanz and Fordow with natural uranium
- Use all current centrifuges in Natanz and Fordow with 3-5 % uranium
- Use 6000 IR-1 centrifuges as tandem cascades with 20 % uranium
- Use 3000 IR-2ms at an unknown location
Time required for one SQ
6 months
2 months
2 weeks
1-2 weeks
Need for Enriched Uranium
Bushehr LWR has a contract for fuel with the Russians
- annual reload 20 tons 4 % enriched uranium
- requires 120-140000 IR-1 centrifuges to produce
- requires yellow cake importsTehran Research Reactor- 20 years ago Iran imported about 120 kg 20 % enriched fuel,
which is close to being consumed- Iran has produced 410 kg 20 % enriched UF6 ( 274 kg uranium)Iran states that it plans for four additional research reactors,
but has not disclosed detailsIran plans to build additional LWRs, but no plans disclosed
When the IAEA Rings Bells ?
IAEA inspects Fordow and Natanz every one or two weeksUranium stocks ( natural, 3-5 % and 20 %) in Isfahan are
inspected less frequently; monthlyIAEA cannot provide assurances that all facilities and nuclear
materials in Iran have been submitted to safeguardsIAEA does not have knowledge how much “yellow cake” has
been produced in Iran, and where these materials are IAEA does not have knowledge about the number of
centrifuges produced
Add Time to Uranium Clock
Action at known locations- Ship all 20 % uranium out
- Convert all 20 % uranium to oxide form
- Convert all 3-5 % uranium to oxide form (cannot be done in next 3 months)
- Ship all 3-5 % and 20 % out
- Allow a limited enrichment capability, 3000 IR-1 or 3000 SWU
Time gained
- 2 months
- > 1 month
- > 2 months
- 6 months
- > 1 month depending how much 3-5 % and 20 % UF6 stocks left
More Leash to the IAEA
From the beginning of the interim agreement
Iran to declare all the centrifuge rotors manufactured and their current location
IAEA allowed to monitor rotors and their manufacturingAll nuclear material (UF6, oxides) in Natanz, Fordow, and
Isfahan under IAEA remote monitoringIran to declared and allow the IAEA to monitor yellow cake
The Heavy Water Reactor Program
The IR-40 reactor will be commissioned in 2014.
Ill suited for isotope production though claimed to replace Tehran Research Reactor.
Will be able to produce plutonium enough for one nuclear device/year.
Plutonium available earliest in 2016/17, but requires a reprocessing plant to be built.
Add Time to Plutonium Clock
Suspend the construction of the IR-40Suspend production of fuel for the IR-40Place the key components and materials of IR-40 under the
IAEA monitoring (heavy water, fuel loading machine, pumps of the primary circuit)
The Stakes Are high
It is not only about Iran, but the credibility of the nonproliferation regime and the authority of the UN Security Council are being tested
When looking at the past experiences a comprehensive initial declaration is essential for the success of the interim agreement