Ayatollah Khamenei. Image Credit: Tasnim News, CC BY 4.0.
Iran is on track to obtain enough enriched uranium for a nuclear bomb within one month, according to a report by the US-based Institute for Science and International Security.
The report, published on Monday, estimated that a worst case scenario would see Iran produce enough weapons-grade uranium for one nuclear weapon within a month.
Furthermore, the report claims, in three months it could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a second weapon, and in five months, a third.
Iran already has 200g of enriched uranium metal, which is an integral element for producing nuclear weapons.
The report’s prediction would not mean that Tehran could fire a nuclear weapon immediately, as this required additional stages relating to detonation and delivery.
However, if correct, the report’s findings would indicate that Iran stands at a new nuclear threshold.
Since April, the Islamic Republic has increased its enrichment from 5-20% to the 60% level, which is considered only one level down from the 90% weaponised level.
Indeed, at lower levels, Iran has in fact had sufficient quantity for multiple nuclear bombs for several months.
The report concludes that all Iranian moves are designed to pressure the US into concessions in the nuclear negotiations which broke down in June, and which have been totally frozen since new president Ebrahim Raisi took office.