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This Diagram Suggests Iran Is Working on Bomb With More Than Triple the Explosive Force of A-Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima

Nov. 27, 2012 4:25pm
Diagram Suggests Iran Working on Bomb With More Than Triple the Explosive Force of Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima

The undated diagram that was given to the AP by officials of a country critical of Iran’s atomic program allegedly calculating the explosive force of a nuclear weapon _ a key step in developing such arms. The diagram shows a bell curve and has variables of time in micro-seconds and power and energy, both in kilotons _ the traditional measurement of the energy output, and hence the destructive power of nuclear weapons. The curve peaks at just above 50 kilotons at around 2 microseconds, reflecting the full force of the weapon being modeled. The Farsi writing at the bottom translates “changes in output and in energy released as a function of time through power pulse”. (Credit: AP)

VIENNA (TheBlaze/AP) — Iranian scientists have run computer simulations for a nuclear weapon that would produce more than triple the explosive force of the World War II bomb that destroyed Hiroshima, according to a diagram obtained by The Associated Press.

The diagram was leaked by officials from a country critical of Iran’s atomic program to bolster their arguments that Iran’s nuclear program must be halted before it produces a weapon. The officials provided the diagram only on condition that they and their country not be named.

The International Atomic Energy Agency — the Vienna-based U.N. nuclear watchdog — reported last year that it had obtained diagrams indicating that Iran was calculating the “nuclear explosive yield” of potential weapons. A senior diplomat who is considered neutral on the issue confirmed that the graph obtained by the AP was indeed one of those cited by the IAEA in that report. He spoke only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue.

The IAEA report mentioning the diagrams last year did not give details of what they showed. But the diagram seen by the AP shows a bell curve — with variables of time in micro-seconds, and power and energy both in kilotons — the traditional measurement of the energy output, and hence the destructive power of nuclear weapons. The curve peaks at just above 50 kilotons at around 2 microseconds, reflecting the full force of the weapon being modeled.

In comparison, the bomb that the United States dropped on Hiroshima in Japan during World War II  had a force of about 15 kilotons. Modern nuclear weapons have yields hundreds of times higher than that.

The diagram has a caption in Farsi: “Changes in output and in energy released as a function of time through power pulse.” The number “5” is part of the title, suggesting it is part of a series.

David Albright, whose Institute for Science and International Security is used by the U.S. government as a go-to source on Iran’s nuclear program, said the diagram looks genuine but seems to be designed more “to understand the process” than as part of a blueprint for an actual weapon in the making.

“The yield is too big,” Albright said, noting that North Korea’s first tests of a nuclear weapon were only a few kilotons. Because the graph appears to be only one in a series, others might show lower yields, closer to what a test explosion might produce, he said.

The senior diplomat said the diagram was part of a series of Iranian computer-generated models provided to the IAEA by the intelligences services of member nations for use in its investigations of suspicions that Iran is trying to produce a nuclear weapon. Iran denies any interest in such a weapon and has accused the United States and Israel of fabricating evidence that suggests it is trying to build a bomb.

Asked about the project, Iran’s chief IAEA delegate, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said he had not heard of it. IAEA spokeswoman Gill Tudor said the agency had no comment.

Iran has refused to halt uranium enrichment, despite offers of reactor fuel from abroad, saying it is producing nuclear fuel for civilian uses. It has refused for years to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear agency’s efforts to investigate its program.

Iran’s critics fear it could use the enriched uranium for military purposes. Such concerns grew this month when the IAEA said Iran is poised to double its output of higher-enriched uranium at its fortified underground facility — a development that could put Tehran within months of being able to make the core of a nuclear warhead.

In reporting on the existence of the diagrams last year, the IAEA said it had obtained them from two member nations that it did not identify. Other diplomats have said that Israel and the United States — the countries most concerned about Iran’s nuclear program — have supplied the bulk of intelligence being used by the IAEA in its investigation.

“The application of such studies to anything other than a nuclear explosive is unclear to the agency,” the IAEA said at the time.

The models were allegedly created in 2008 and 2009 — well after 2003, the year that the United States said Tehran had suspended such work in any meaningful way. That date has been questioned by Britain, France, Germany and Israel, and the IAEA now believes that — while Iran shut down some of its work back then — other tests and experiments continue today.

With both the IAEA probe and international attempts to engage Iran stalled, there are fears that Israel may opt to strike at Tehran’s nuclear program. The Jewish state insists it will not tolerate an Iran armed with nuclear arms.

An intelligence summary provided with the drawing linked it to other alleged nuclear weapons work — significant because it would indicate that Iran is working not on isolated experiments, but rather on a single program aimed at mastering all aspects of nuclear arms development.

The IAEA suspects that Iran has conducted live tests of conventional explosives that could be used to detonate a nuclear weapon at Parchin, a sprawling military base southeast of Tehran. The intelligence summary provided to the AP said data gained from those tests fed the model plotted in the diagram. Iran has repeatedly turned down IAEA requests to visit the site, which the agency fears is undergoing a major cleanup meant to eliminate any traces of such experiments.

The intelligence summary named nuclear scientists Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Majid Shahriari and Fereidoun Abbasi as key players in developing the computer diagrams, adding that Shahriari and Abbasi were also involved in the Parchin testing.

Iran has for years rebuffed IAEA attempts to question Fakhrizadeh for his suspected involvement in secret programs. Shahriari was assassinated in 2010 by what Iran says were Israeli agents. Abbasi, now the head of Iran’s nuclear agency, was wounded in a separate assassination attempt the same day that Shahriari was killed.

The senior diplomat, who is familiar with the Iran probe, said the agency has not yet determined any connection between Parchin and the computer models. But Olli Heinonen, who headed the IAEA’s Iran investigation until 2010, said using the results of the alleged Parchin tests would “make sense as part of the design and testing of a (computer) model.”

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Comments (59)

1 2
  • mash4077
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 7:00pm

    if you think they{muslims} are emboldened now, knowing that they are rearming and the world stands idly by,just think how emboldened they will be when,not if, they annihilate isreal.first they will try conventional means{weapons}. they will use nukes when they get the guidance systems working. they can send it up, but they are still not sure where it will land. these animals do not value life they will nuke the world without a care.

    Report this comment

    mash4077  
  • singray
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 6:34pm

    The Leaders of the World are just a bunch of nobodies trying to be somebodys. Truth and facts mean little if it doesn’t make more think your more important than you are. Those that speak the truth are labeled as War Mongers, Greedy, Racist and the such. Just scary that hey think that they are either protected from or won’t be around when the S hits the fan.
    What the World needs is someone to explain it to them. Isreal should just anounce that yes, like the rumors state, tey do have Nukes. And that they have many Warheads on Subs. And that if the World doesn’t stop Iran than they will try themselves. And if this fails and Iran is able to Nuke Isreal that all their Subs will launch against every Muslum Capital. And the World should realize this is not in their best interests.Euope should understand how close she’ll be to this mayhem. Because once this unfolds, it will not be Isreal’s problem anymore as she will no longer exist. This will be the Worlds problem then. And at this time we shall be grateful to go so early. As the suffering of the remaining will surely be worse.

    Report this comment

    singray  
  • KidCharlemagne
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 6:22pm

    If D.C. would stop running trillion dollar deficits every year, then Iran wouldn’t be a threat at all.

    Report this comment

    KidCharlemagne  
  • Irememberamerica
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:58pm

    No red line….

    Report this comment

    Irememberamerica  
  • Secret Squirrel
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:53pm

    .
    “The yield is too big.”
    So, there’s a yield that’s not too big somewhere?
    It’s a nuclear bomb, for god’s sake.

    People got mad at Ron Paul for allowing Iran to have a nuke.
    Meanwhile, Obama, Clinton, Bush, and the UN have spoken loudly, and done nothing
    to stop anybody from getting a nuke. At least Paul told the truth.

    Iran WILL have a nuke, now what are they going to do about it?
    Hope it doesn’t hit their house.

    Report this comment

    Secret Squirrel  
  • DougHuffman
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:51pm

    The Irani may have an unfortunate 50 kT nuclear accident

    Report this comment

    DougHuffman  
  • jessieH
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:44pm

    Let’s just hope they blow themselves off the face of the planet. We all know Osama Obama isn’t going to do squat. Neither will the bogus UN.

    Report this comment

    jessieH  
    • BHOHG2G
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 8:19pm

      It would just get blamed on Israel no matter the evidence to the contrary

      Report this comment

      BHOHG2G  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:27pm

    obama will continue to ignore the threat that Iran poses to the United States and the world – obama will continue to pander to and side with islamic terrorists.

    Rick Santorum isn’t the only one who has pointed out the dangers, but, he tried to draw attention to the issue during the GOP primaries … to no avail. This was, and is, an important issue to him, as it should be to every American. His position … from the primaries …

    http://www.ricksantorum.com/response-iran

    Report this comment

    Tri-ox  
  • nonofmybiznez
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:23pm

    They want to prove that our God and the Bible are not the truth. They will not stop until they have destroyed Israel. They will taint their own bed to kill their enemy. They are like children who are envious of the parent’s favorite child. When they destroy Israel and they have defeated their long hated foe, who do you think they will hate then? Who after Israel? They will continue to chase the Jewish across the World as well as Christians. Do not judge them by your own standards. They are not civilized in the same way you are.

    Report this comment

    nonofmybiznez  
    • vincijoey49
      Posted on November 28, 2012 at 12:15pm

      Israel will never be destroyed:
      1) The day-night cycle must be stopped (Jeremiah 31:35-36). God is saying, “If you want the nation of Israel to stop being a nation then you must find a way to stop the day from coming after the night and stop the night from coming after the day.”

      2) The heavens must be measured (Jeremiah 31:37). God is saying, “If you want the nation of Israel to stop being a nation then you must be able to tell Me how many stars there are in My Universe.” Even if men build bigger and better telescopes, do you think they will ever be able to see all the stars in the universe? ______

      3) The foundations of the earth must be searched out (Jeremiah 31:37). God is saying, “If you want the nation of Israel to stop being a nation then you must be able to dig a hole to the center of the earth.” Will man ever be able to do this? _______

      Report this comment

      vincijoey49  
  • cosmic dogma
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:22pm

    That is just peachy keen. So, what happens to Israel if there is a “BIG” nuke dropped in their airspace, and it is detonated by their defense system, over Gaza. Israelis have underground bunkers. Hamas, not so much. Are the muslims going to blame Israel for scorching the earth ? Yes they are. Is the rest of the world going to blame Israel for defending themselves and exploding the bomb -not in Israel-, yes they will. The only thing that will make muslims happy is total annihilation of Israel, and that happiness will last but a moment, until they resume their hatred of everything and everyone, including other factions of islam.

    Report this comment

    cosmic dogma  
  • drandall
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:17pm

    Quiz: which country is the only one known to drop an atomic bomb on innocent people? Bonus question:which middle east country is the only one to attack the US Navy at sea in broad daylight? and they have hundreds of nuclear weapons…….

    Report this comment

    drandall  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:27pm

      you dont know your history …muslims have been attacking our ships for centuries…..hence the commission of a full time navy

      and the bombs we dropped on japan were when we actually fought wars to win them

      Report this comment

      Psychosis  
  • DEFCON4
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:11pm

    Meanwhile, back on the “ranch” having a successful Iron Dome system, the I.D.F. demonstrated
    “David’s Sling” . So, here’s the “Magic Wand” at work:http://youtu.be/G7WBWWjvjJc……..

    Report this comment

    DEFCON4  
  • taintso
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:09pm

    Obama may get his energy dream NYC lit up and glowing by an energy source other than fossil.

    Report this comment

    taintso  
  • Cavallo
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:08pm

    Israel is all alone in this. Obama will not help them, and will hinder them if he can. But I guess Israel already knows this.

    Report this comment

    Cavallo  
  • txannie
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:02pm

    Well just what did anyone think they wanted to do, build a tinker toy? They want to completely destroy the “West”, aka: United States of America, even if it nukes half the world just so they can say they won. These people are seriously unable to mentally to understand the consequences of their actions because they have been brainwashed by their nitwit ” prophets” their entire lives that they are “special” and will be protected. And the silly ninny in the White House is seriously helping them whether it is turning a blind eye or playing ignorance of the facts. This is a scenario strait out of Revelations! Since that part of the Bible seems to be coming true I can only pray that the Rapture happens too. I intend to be on that wave.

    Report this comment

    txannie  
    • jcldwl
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:11pm

      We are there with you.

      Report this comment

      jcldwl  
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 6:03pm

      Me too!!

      Report this comment

      hatchetjob  
    • robot501
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 6:47pm

      They get it, and don’t think Obama isn’t drooling over the possible destruction of Isreal. And they aren’t the only ones who’ve “got it comin’”. The dreams of his father…

      Report this comment

      robot501  
  • jakartaman
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:01pm

    This is not something we should be concerned about.
    This too will blow over like that Benghazi thingy.
    Heck, I have ignored bigger problems than this
    I certainly hope we don’t give those crazies Israel our latest bunker busters

    The convergence of all these good things are going to be the cause of a real party soon!
    Eruo Boom
    USA dollar Boom
    Middle East War Boom
    Civil Social Upheaval – Boom

    Report this comment

    jakartaman  
  • skippy6
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:59pm

    Remember, they are just a small country!!!! Obama says not to worry……Nothing to see here….Move along my little sheep….

    Report this comment

    skippy6  
  • denkat56
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:48pm

    Can we say cruise missile , with a letter of apologies to those involved.

    Report this comment

    denkat56  
  • teapartyconservatism
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:45pm

    Obama fiddles while …

    Obama is not an eligible “natural born citizen” as deductively defined and required by Article 2, Section 1, of our Constitution, as one born in America to TWO American parents!*

    If God, ‘unalienable’ rights and our Constitution matter, then how does Glenn justify extolling religious and patriotic principles, while hypocritically condoning the moral relativism of ignoring the Constitution?

    Glenn why mock patriots supporting the Constitution? Why refuse to acknowledge the facts uncovered by law enforcement investigators about Obama’s fraudulent altered birth certificate, selective service registration and stolen social security number?

    Main stream media apparently profits more by biased partial reporting and omission, than truth. Sadly, conservative commentators like Glenn, Rush, Sean and O’Lielly are similarly complicit. Do the owners harbor ulterior motives?
    Public ignorance is a golden goose to liars preying on sheeple.

    America is slipping towards an abyss of socialism compounded by insurmountable debt. It’s time to learn the truth.

    Take action! Vote with your dollar. Boycott businesses advertising with liars. Insist Congress investigate rather than re-certify Obama. Challenge vote fraud. Pass voter photo id laws.

    M. Apuzzo, Esq., “Barack Obama Is Ineligible …” http://puzo1.blogspot.com/2012/10/barack-obama-is-ineligible-to-be.html (11/10/12)

    Report this comment

    teapartyconservatism  
    • Winedude
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 7:27pm

      “Obama is not an eligible “natural born citizen” as deductively defined and required by Article 2, Section 1, of our Constitution, as one born in America to TWO American parents!* What a load of CRAP! I read your blog and there is nothing to legally convince me that both parents have to be citizens or that specifically the father has to be a citizen, to make a child a “natural-born” citizen. My grandson was born overseas and had an American passport and was recognized as a US citizen well before he was a month old. Y’all are ******’ into the wind, but I see that a lot on this site. Grow up and get a life…!

      Report this comment

      Winedude  
    • teapartyconservatism
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:31pm

      @ Winedude

      Thanks for the compliment but I’m not Mario.

      Glad we could agree though, at least right up to the point where you realized you had no facts to support your bias and went off the tracks in a tirade. Rather than present a rational retort, you reverted to Alinsky ridicule. I award you zero style points.

      Based on your reply, it’s doubtful that you read Mario’s article as you claim. However if you’re curious about the truth, here’s a supporting article to consider.

      J.B. Williams, “EVIDENCE BROADENS OBAMA NATURAL BORN CONSPIRACY” http://thepatriotsnews.com/indx.php/content/163 (6/7/11)

      As for your grandson, if he was not born on U.S. soil to TWO American parents, then pursuant to Section 301 of the INA, he may be “citizen.” However he is not a “natural born citizen” eligible to be POTUS. You’re confusing the two.

      Don’t be too embarrassed by your ignorant lack of basic Constitutional knowledge. The bilge you blindly regurgitated is exactly what your trusted main stream media wanted you to think. Perhaps “think” is the wrong word but I digress. Suffice it to say, they lied to you.

      FYI, also pursuant to Section 301.(CT:CON-317; 12-08-2009), Obama may not even be a U.S. citizen. Here’s why.

      “Is Barack Hussein Obama II Even a U.S. Citizen?”
      http://www.obamabirthcertificate.net/2012/06/is-usurper-obama-even-us-citizen.html (6/24/12)

      Enjoy the Apocalypse.

      Report this comment

      teapartyconservatism  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on November 28, 2012 at 3:10am

      You are mistaken, sir. Under the laws of our great nation anyone who is born here enjoys the status of a natural born citizen and may one day run for the office of President. There was some dispute over this issue in the first century after the passage of our Constitution, but the Supreme Court finally examined the issue in 1898. They found that it was the policy under the laws of England at the time of our founding, with which the founding fathers would surely have been familiar, that natural birth was dependent only upon place of birth, not upon parentage. Since our founders nowhere in the Constitution or anywhere else wrote any article or statute changing this standard, they concluded that it remained in effect under the Constitution and up to the present day.

      Report this comment

      Chet Hempstead  
    • Troll Patrol
      Posted on November 28, 2012 at 8:15pm

      @ Chet Hempstead

      Troll Patrol is advising readers to ignore you!

      Troll: one who posts a deliberately provocative, false or misleading comment with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.

      Tempus fugit.

      Report this comment

      Troll Patrol  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on November 29, 2012 at 12:30am

      Troll Patrol
      I assure you, I have no desire to provoke argument or disruption. If you were to research this subject thoroughly with the assistance of an educated person who has the ability to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources of information, you would surely discover that it is teapartyconservatism, not I, who is posting false and misleading comments.

      Report this comment

      Chet Hempstead  
  • THX-1138
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:43pm

    I just can’t wait to see the faces of the reporters as they broadcast the first images of the mushroom clouds over Israel. I wonder how they’ll blame the Republicans…

    Report this comment

    THX-1138  
  • wheeler44
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:40pm

    Don’t you just love those lovable Iranians and their Hamas offshoot? So cuddly each and every one.

    Report this comment

    wheeler44  
  • recklessapathy
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:38pm

    A thought. Suppose people who don’t care how many of their “own” die have a nuclear bomb. These people are just going to use it as they want, these people don’t care about consequences.

    Are you still making jokes?

    Report this comment

    recklessapathy  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:43pm

      Never have when it comes to a nuclear device in the hands of fanatics and madmen. The only question is which city is going to die first? An American one or Israeli?

      Report this comment

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • TSUNAMI_22
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:56pm

      @ Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}

      The only question is which city is going to die first? An American one or Israeli?
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      The answer to your question is, YES.

      Report this comment

      TSUNAMI_22  
    • robot501
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 6:51pm

      @snowleopard… they’ve got to get their dope straight before they fire for effect. Sorry somewhere around Isreal, or Isreal, or Gaza or Italy or France… the Iranians are not known for their marksmanship.

      Report this comment

      robot501  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 9:58pm

      @Robot:

      A small nuclear warhead can be fitted into a one way trip on a boat, cargo ship, private airplane or even a semi-pulled trailer and there goes a city. Just because the missiles they have at this time are items of junk (if they are) does not mean they have not thought of or even practiced other, unconventional means of delivery.

      Recall the lesson of the Arden’s in WW2, France in 1940 and the Allies in 1944 said the woods could never be crossed by armor, they forgot to tell the Germans who did it twice.

      Report this comment

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:35pm

    Even if it is a projection of an estimated testing of a nuclear device, an functional 50kt nuclear bomb is nothing to sneeze upon. A air burst of this strength will yield roughly x1.5-x2 the devastation of the Hiroshima bomb…this is a nightmare in the making, one which Obama in his idiocy has allowed to become near reality.

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • JerseyBatman
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:34pm

    So it looks like Israel has waited a little too long in order too derail this they might, or will have to use Nukes to destroy this. Get you popcorn and Marshmellows ready WWIII is just around the corner.

    Report this comment

    JerseyBatman  
    • jcldwl
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 5:14pm

      We turned that corner a while back. It is just warming up.

      Report this comment

      jcldwl  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:30pm

    Well, we all know they’re not the smartest bulbs on the planet, we can always hope they’ll screw up, and blow themselves all up to smithereens!!

    Report this comment

    RightUnite  
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:32pm

      I’m hoping with all of my might

      Report this comment

      hatchetjob  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:37pm

      They only have to get it right once, and the current nuclear reactors they have are capable of generating enough weapons grade material for an estimated 5-8 bombs (conservatively) per year for ten years.

      When the first device is deployed or tested by Iran, then all paradigms in the Middle East change instantly.

      Report this comment

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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