Iran ‘confidence’ bid shifts uranium to fuel stock

< Previous Page

Iranian engineers have the know-how to convert the U308 powder back to gas for the enrichment centrifuges, Fitzpatrick said.

"It would not take long to set it up," he said, noting the procedure is similar to the existing conversion line of uranium ore concentrate — known as yellowcake — to a gas known as UF6 that is the feedstock for enrichment.

Matthew Bunn, an associate professor at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, also said Iran has the ability to reconvert the oxide into uranium gas.

"It is possible ... Iran has the technology," he said.

Heinonen noted, however, that any debate about Iran’s conversion to the U308 powder "might not really be an issue" since it already has a critical mass of 20 percent enriched uranium.

"And the stocks are likely growing," he said

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

About Reader Comments

---

Reader comments on sltrib.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Salt Lake Tribune. We will delete comments containing obscenities, personal attacks and inappropriate or offensive remarks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. If you see an objectionable comment, please alert us by clicking the arrow on the upper right side of the comment and selecting "Flag comment as inappropriate". If you've recently registered with Disqus or aren't seeing your comments immediately, you may need to verify your email address. To do so, visit disqus.com/account.
See more about comments here.