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[Grakl]

Edit:

Iran's state media has denied reports that Tehran had suspended the enrichment of uranium at 20% in a goodwill gesture ahead of talks with the world's major powers.

Speculation, go.

-------------

Original post:

Poligaf rep.

Iran suspends uranium enrichment
Move intended as gesture of goodwill before negotiations with US over nuclear programme begin next week

Iran has suspended the enrichment of uranium stockpiles to the 20% purity needed to bring it a short step from building a nuclear device, news services in the region have reported.

Mohammad Hossein Asfari, a member of parliament responsible for foreign policy and national security, was quoted as saying that the move was a "goodwill" gesture, aimed at softening Iran's position before a new round of scheduled talks with the United States after this week's presidential elections.

Asfari said he hoped sanctions would be lifted in return for Iran's actions, otherwise it would resume the programme, according to a website belonging to the Al Arabiya news channel. Talks aimed at halting Iran's enrichment programme have made little progress, leading to the west tightening sanctions and increasing the prospect of military action by Israel.

The Islamic republic's economy has plummeted in the grip of punitive economic measures and Tehran indicated earlier this month that it would be willing to negotiate. However, the offer to suspend enrichment required so many concessions that it was dismissed by the United States.

Iran has a stockpile of 20% uranium weighing just over 90kg (200lb), according to an International Energy Agency watchdog report in August. Experts say between 200-250kg is needed for one nuclear device. Once uranium reaches 20% purity, it is close to becoming weapons grade. Experts have estimated it would take Iran another year to produce a warhead small enough to put on a missile.

Tehran is said to have nearly completed a nuclear enrichment plan with the last of 3,000 uranium centrifuges installed at the underground site of Fordo, near the holy city of Qum.

The machines were working at only half capacity, but the development was a crucial step in developing a nuclear device, the New York Times reported.

Israel has drawn a "red line" in spring next year based on its own calculations, when it could launch a pre-emptive military strike to stop the programme.

Iran has said it needs to refine uranium for civilian use, with the material converted to fuel rods used for medical isotopes to diagnose and treat illnesses.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/04/iran-suspend-uranium-enrichment

 

[pigeon]

Obama smirking jpeg.

Also me smirking at all the people who said they didn't think the sanctions would stop Iran's rush to a nuclear weapon. Dot jpeg.

Best foreign policy president in decades.

 

[sprsk]

paulryanshockedface.gif

 

[Mumei]

I don't think pigeons are capable of smirking, pigeon.

And good news.

 

[B-Dubs]

Look at that, crippling economic sanctions worked. Turns out we didn't need to go to war after all!

 

[NullPointer]

 

[makingmusic476]

"If Obama is reelected, Iran WILL have a nuclear weapon."

 

[IrishNinja]

bad new for obamas

 

[Oblivion]

Keyword: "suspends".

They're hedging their bets just in case Romney becomes president. Otherwise if Obama gets re-elected, you can be sure that "suspension" expires Nov. 7.

Do I need to post the comic again?

 

[speculawyer]

We need a grand bargain with Iran.

Get Iran to
-Stop high-grade enrichment
-Allow inspections
-Have them reactor grade uranium from Russia under a monitored program

Have the rest of the world
-Get rid of the oil sanctions
-Have the US unfreeze some assets

There is just no need for the current cold war with them. I would be nice if we could agree to end it in a way where everyone benefits.

 

[nib95]

Even if it is only temporary, it's pretty huge. Did not expect it.

 

[Drakeon]

This totally came out of nowhere. Not sure it'll have much of an effect on the election 2 days out, but it can only be good news for Obama really.

 

[Al-ibn Kermit]

The title really should include the 20% number. If they gave up all enrichment, then that would make negotiations useless.

And I'm sure this was timed to create the most positive exposure for Obama for holding Israel off of doing airstrikes. It's all a game.

 

[mercenar1e]

This totally came out of nowhere. Not sure it'll have much of an effect on the election 2 days out, but it can only be good news for Obama really.

it should have a huge effect on those that are capable of critical thinking

 

[Grakl]

The title really should include the 20% number. If they gave up all enrichment, then that would make negotiations useless.

And I'm sure this was timed to create the most positive exposure for Obama for holding Israel off of doing airstrikes. It's all a game.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that number is not what you think it means. It means that they'll stop producing 20%-enriched uranium, not that they're stopping all but 20% of their uranium production.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enriched_uranium

Highly enriched uranium (HEU) has a greater than 20% concentration of 235U or 233U. The fissile uranium in nuclear weapons usually contains 85% or more of 235U known as weapon(s)-grade, though for a crude, inefficient weapon 20% is sufficient (called weapon(s)-usable);[3][4] in theory even lower enrichment is sufficient, but then the critical mass for unmoderated fast neutrons rapidly increases, approaching infinity at 6% 235U.[5] For criticality experiments, enrichment of uranium to over 97% has been accomplished.[6]

 

[Chibits12]

Just give Iran all the solar panels and wind farms they need. It's really sunny there and there's enough wind at the gulf. They'll lol and scoff at that idea.

 

[Volimar]

It's a nice sentiment, but it doesn't really mean anything yet.

 

[PhoenixDark]

Good news. Perhaps the administration's strategy to treat them with respect and offer them a seat to the table is paying off, alongside the sanctions.

Now we wait and see if anything comes of this

 

[Glorified G]

it should have a huge effect on those that are capable of critical thinking

So it won't have any effect.

 

[relaxor]

This is promising. I support anything to deflate the Iran/Israel conflict.

 

[Al-ibn Kermit]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that number is not what you think it means. It means that they'll stop producing 20%-enriched uranium, not that they're stopping all but 20% of their uranium production.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enriched_uranium

Yes I know that. They've always had 20%-enriched uranium on the table as something that they were willing to give up. But they stood their ground on being able to do 5%-enriched uranium. The 5%-enriched uranium is used for power generation and the 20%-enriched uranium is used for certain medical research.

If as a show of goodwill, they gave up all uranium enrichment, then that would suggest that they are willing to bargain away the most important part of the nuclear program.

 

[Battersea Power Station]

I'm gonna wreck it!

 

[Chibits12]

Sounds like Iran is doing the whole bait-and-switch thing, much like watching a Shamwow commercial. "We mean what we say. Not!"

 

[Grakl]

Yes I know that. They've always had 20%-enriched uranium on the table as something that they were willing to give up. But they stood their ground on being able to do 5%-enriched uranium. The 5%-enriched uranium is used for power generation and the 20%-enriched uranium is used for certain medical research.

If as a show of goodwill, they gave up all uranium enrichment, then that would suggest that they are willing to bargain away the most important part of the nuclear program.

I thought that the problem was production of 20%-enriched uranium, because it's then considered weapon's grade.

Either way, I got what you're saying.

edit: Never mind, I see that 5% is also a problem. Thanks.

 

[Earthstrike]

They want obama reelected. They are making a very intelligent move here.

 

[Oblivion]

Good news. Perhaps the administration's strategy to treat them with respect and offer them a seat to the table is paying off, alongside the sanctions.

Now we wait and see if anything comes of this

Guess I DO have to post the comic again:

The Iranians are playing Obama like a Kenyan made fiddle.

 

[Lionel Mandrake]

 

[Al-ibn Kermit]

I thought that the problem was production of 20%-enriched uranium, because it's then considered weapon's grade.

Either way, I got what you're saying.

edit: Never mind, I see that 5% is also a problem. Thanks.

I believe like 95% is weapons grade,, but the jump from 5-to-95 is a lot bigger than from 20-to-95.

 

[vas_a_morir]

He's rubbing memory erasing powder on his face. It all makes sense, now.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

I thought that the problem was production of 20%-enriched uranium, because it's then considered weapon's grade.

Even lower than 20% is technically weaponizable, but unless you want incredibly shitty, horribly inefficient and unwieldily large (large physical dimensions, not large yield) you want 85% or higher. 85 and up isn't called weapons grade for no reason.

 

[Grakl]

Even lower than 20% is technically weaponizable, but unless you want incredibly shitty, horribly inefficient and unwieldily large (large physical dimensions, not large yield) you want 85% or higher. 85 and up isn't called weapons grade for no reason.

Gotcha.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Gotcha.

Of course, in the "omg terrorist bomb truck we're all gonna die" sense they could already have atomic weapons if they've got to 20%. They probably don't, though, because I don't think they're actually pursuing a weapons programme.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Guess I DO have to post the comic again:

The Iranians are playing Obama like a Kenyan made fiddle.

..... Kenyan fiddle..... wut?.

Anyway good for them. Nuclear power is still extremely promising.

 

[Yoshiya]

The Iranians are playing Obama like a Kenyan made fiddle.

Wait do we have actual birthers posting on GAF? Woah.

 

[watershed]

Good news for now. I hope this is a result of the sanctions doing their job and not another ploy by the Iranian government.

 

[Emwitus]

Well played iran. Right before the elections.

 

[Volimar]

Well played iran. Right after weeks of crippling sanctions.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there's no relation to the election at all, but I seriously doubt it would mean enough to have as much of an impact as the sanctions did.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

Wait do we have actual birthers posting on GAF? Woah.

Oblivion grew up in Kenya, too. Him, Obama, and Trump all hung out.

 

[Half and half]

"These peasants stink and they're poor. Is that a hand in my pocket?"

 

[Suikoguy]

Oblivion grew up in Kenya, too. Him, Obama, and Trump all hung out.

Those soccer feuds are for life!

 

[Veitsev]

Wait do we have actual birthers posting on GAF? Woah.

You are getting trolled son.

 

[Aselith]

Iranians running scared from a Romney presidency!

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Iranians running scared from a Romney presidency!

Probably, what kinda retards dont want another war.

 

[nib95]

Iranians running scared from a Romney presidency!

Everyone in the world should be running scared from a Romney presidency. In fact, I think the vast majority of the world would prefer it that way.

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Everyone in the world should be running scared from a Romney presidency. In fact, I think the vast majority of the world would prefer it that way.

Think the polls show about 80%+ of Australians want Obama again.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

Wait do we have actual birthers posting on GAF? Woah.

some gaffers see the world as their stage and want to play the Kenyan made fiddles while watching the world burn.

 

[Reuenthal]

I wouldn't be too optimistic about this but it is good news. Obama's strategy seems to be working.

 

[squidyj]

I like watching Oblivion try.

 

[The Awesomest]

it should have a huge effect on those that are capable of critical thinking

What he means is that most people have already voted

 

[xbhaskarx]

Iranian mullahs doing a favor for their fellow Muslim.