Iran Loads Domestically-Made Fuel Rods into Nuclear Reactor
- Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:38am by
Sharona Schwartz
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President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised he’d be making a big announcement regarding the progress of his country’s nuclear program, which Iran says is for civilian purposes, but which the West characterizes as covertly aimed at one day producing nuclear bombs. Iran has now announced it loaded domestically made nuclear fuel rods into its Tehran Research Reactor on Wednesday, the first time it has done so in order to keep it running.
Iran’s Press TV reports:
Iran has placed the first domestically-made fuel rods into the heart of Tehran Research Reactor as President Ahmadinejad unveils the country’s latest nuclear achievements.
According to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the fuel rods were produced at Isfahan nuclear facility and transferred to the Tehran Research Reactor under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors.
By placing nuclear plates into the Tehran reactor, Iran has taken the final step in completing the nuclear fuel cycle.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Fereydoun Abbasi were also present at the ceremony on Wednesday.
Reuters reports:
Tehran had announced in January that it had successfully manufactured and tested fuel rods for use in nuclear power plants, a move to show that international sanctions are failing to stop it making advances in nuclear know-how and to strengthen its hand in any renewed negotiations with six world powers. […]
The Tehran reactor produces radio-isotopes for use in medical treatments and agriculture.
Iran says it was forced to make its own fuel for the Tehran reactor after failing to agree terms for a deal to obtain it from the West to replenish imported Argentinian stocks expected to run out in the near future. But many analysts doubted Iran would be able to convert its uranium into special reactor fuel.
Ali Baqeri, the deputy head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council told a Russian news outlet:
“We have started enriching uranium to 20 percent to build nuclear fuel rods since western countries are reluctant to provide us with assistance,” Bagheri told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.
The Iranian student news agency, ISNA characterized the insertion of the domestically-produced fuel rods as a “giant step in Iranian nuclear program.”
Reuters spoke to a nuclear expert to gauge the significance of the development:
Mark Hibbs, a nuclear expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said he did not believe the Iranian announcement signaled any mass production of nuclear fuel.
“We are talking about laboratory-scale production of a single element for the reactor,” he said.
Meanwhile, a new Gallup poll shows that Iranians are split on their country’s potential military use of the nuclear program. In a poll published Wednesday, Gallup reports more Iranians support the non-military use than military:
Iranians are more likely to approve of Iran developing its nuclear power capabilities for non-military use (57%) than for military use (40%). They are more mixed about military use, which Iran insists it is not pursuing, with 40% approving and 35% disapproving. Nearly one in four did not express an opinion either way.
At the same time, survey respondents contacted by phone from outside Iran said despite the pain of economic sanctions, “nearly half (46%) approve of cutting diplomatic relations with countries that impose economic sanctions on it. A sizable minority of Iranians, 31%, disapprove of cutting ties.”
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spinelessdave
Posted on February 18, 2012 at 12:30pmBend over Ahmadinejad America has a fuel rod for you, take it all !
Report Post »Blindtimes
Posted on February 17, 2012 at 2:49amIran is making a big move on the world chessboard. They want the Bomb! For several years, Iran has put together a strategical network that can reach all parts of the world. There are working right on America southern border.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXfFq0JTy9g
Report Post »rrjenn
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 5:12pmWe worry so much about Iran’s nuclear program because they are Muslims and The Jews are afraid. We should be more concerned about Pakistan’s known arsenal of nukes that could easily fall into the wrong hands.
Report Post »moveintothelight
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 9:46pmpakistan is sunni and will never give iran a shia country a nuke.
Report Post »we should all worry about iran as they are a bunch of lairs who sponsor terrorism worldwide.
BOMUSTGO
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:47pmI hope the reactor is built on a fault line!
Report Post »morningbird1
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 4:00pm@Jerk
Its difficult to take you seriously when you make such historically inaccurate and frankly, absurd comments regarding Israel as a “rogue” nation. In fact, it makes you look like you are just saying these things to get some attention.
Fact 1.) Iran has been attacking Israel for years through proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah…this can be concretely supported by facts. You have provided none in your claim
Fact 2.) Israel as a nation does not have a Prime Minister who walks around claiming her is going to wipe the Arabs and Arab nations off the map!
Fact 3.) Israel has had more rockets and bombs lobbed over their border then anything they have thrown back in SELF DEFENSE…
Show me where in the last 10years Israel has attacked another nation unprovoked???????
Report Post »DD313
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 5:00pmAh, those pesky adjectives that go sailing right over jerkov’s head. Unprovoked, indeed, is a concept alien to Mr. J.
Report Post »bhohater
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 6:19pmLeave them alone, those fanatical idiots are such screw-ups they will blow themselves to hell before they figure out how to build a nuke.
Report Post »tankyjo
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 1:02pmOh, 12th Imam, may your reign be shorter than Acchmaninanutjob’s IQ, and the piece of his a$$ be upon you.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:01pmGod… willing… or not!
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:12pmWhen was the last time Iran attacked any of its neighbors? Not in your lifetime. Now, ask yourself the same question about Israel. The facts tell a completely different reality than your hype. The rogue is Israel.
Report Post »SEPARATENOW
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:42pm@ The_Jerk
Why don’t you rename yourself Paulpologist. It would be more descriptive.
The world watched and hoped Adolph Hitler would not do the things implied in Mein Kampf and spelled out in his plans to solve the Jewish problem. How’d that work out for the civilized world?
Now we watch and hope a religion which lauds mass martyrdom combined with a nation’s leaders promising the annihilation of Israel and the pending technology to do so, won’t do as advertised. Put down the Paulista kool-aid and bashing of past American foreign policy for two seconds and look at reality for what it is…ominous.
The Iraninan leadership think their aggression is required to produce the 12th Imam and are more than giddy to get the ball rolling. C’mon man! Get a clue before it’s too late.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:45pmHey “The_Jerk” Look who Iran is funding to be against Israel.Look who Iran calls the “Little and the Great Satan.“ Look into why Iran changed its name from ”Persia“ to ”Iran” after WW2. Israel wants peace and is surrounded by those who want to destroy her. Read Psalms 83..(It’s coming soon).
Report Post »SEPARATENOW
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:45pm@The_Jerk
Report Post »And another thing….if Israel is a truly rogue state, why aren’t all their neighbors dead, glowing or both? Answer me that, Jerk. Or I should say, Fool.
tzion
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:53pm@Smack
Report Post »When did Iran attack one of its neighbors. Well assuming your NOT counting the Iran-Iraq war, isn’t Hezbollah a proxy of Iran? Didn’t Hezbollah attack Israel with hundreds if not thousands of rockets in 2006? And what about Hamas? Hasn’t Israel intercepted weapons being sent from Iran to Hamas? After all, if America is held (by you and others) accountable for what it did in Iran and Afghanistan shouldn’t Iran be held to the same standards?
SEPARATENOW
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 4:02pmOh TZION, don’t get all logical, factual and equally analytical on the intellectually impoverished. They’ll just get madder and crazier. Shame on you.
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:43pmoh yeah. lets keep our heads buried in the sand a little longer so they will have a nuclear weapon. That way we can blame it on Bush or the next Republican president…
Report Post »GUT_CHECK
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 2:45pmDONT BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!
theyde have to enrich to 80-90% to have weapons grade stuff. relax people
the iranian people dont want war,,, you may not even understand their culture and so many are crying doomsday
this is nowhere near the end of the world
they are making electricity in an old reactor, big whoop
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 2:55pmThe Israeli’s, with our help, did this decades ago. Why is it now evil for Iran to do the same? Israel is by far the most rogue and aggressive nation in the Middle East. Who hasn’t it attacked, most more than once?
Report Post »tzion
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 4:08pm@Jerk
Report Post »Can you be certain that we helped the Israelis? Even if we did, Israel is far more capable of understanding the science behind nuclear power and weapons than Iran. I wouldn‘t trust a society with modern day rifles if they hadn’t discovered gunpowder.
red_white_blue2
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:27pmIt‘s great that the majority of Iranian’s are against it’s military use, HOWEVER–100% of the 40% that do want to use it for military, are in their government. Now which way do you think this is going to go folks?
Report Post »meskew
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:24pmBOOM! Lake Iran
Report Post »universalphilos
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:11pmWould someone knowledgeable about reactors and potential progress please explain what this could mean at this point?
Report Post »JP4JOY
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:30pmWikipedia has a good writeup on their nuclear program which WE helped them start in the 1950′s. It appears they have a genII system that would be similar to the older nuke boat reactors, three mile island was also of this style. Pretty stable until cooling pumps quit.
Report Post »DD313
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:10pmObama wants to reduce our nuclear arsenal by 80%, while the Iranians are going for the glow, themselves.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:00pmObama is clearly a traitor.
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:02pmOK, so here’s what we know about nuclear power plants – if you disable the power coming in, then disable the emergency back up generators, you can then wait for the battery systems to go dead and you have Fukushima/Chernobyl, EVERYTIME.
Sounds easy enough. One bomb at the generator‘s air intake and one drop of graphite thread on the incoming power lines and we’re (they’re) done. Case closed. Why’s everyone so uptight about this?
Sanctions are a waste of time. They are cruel to the poor people in Iran. Quit letting the military industrial complex whine you into a war frenzy.
Report Post »USPATRIOT101
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:52amOr perhaps to achieve a more believable ruse, I’m sure they have some strategically dangled medicinal marijuana to capture full attention.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:25amAnd Obama reduces our nuke capability to what??…
The bloody facilitator aka COMMUNITY ORGANIZER is enabling their Holy War…like offering a drug to an addict, like offering a drink to an alcoholic…HE IS AN ENABLER!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »capitalismrocks
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:15amThis should be interesting…. those reactors may explode on their own with cut rate, Iranian low-quality fuel rods… those bozo’s have no idea what they are doing and this could end up causing their own Chernobyl… the Israeli’s may be able to just sit back and watch Iran nuke itself….
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:06am.
Report Post »Obama will be pleased…….
I.Gaspar
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:57amAs Fred the donut maker used to say,…”It’s time to blow up the Iranians”.
Report Post »Somebody has to stop them before they spark the final conflict.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:08amI have the feeling Iran already has at least one working nuclear device.
Report Post »Calm Voice of Reason
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:47amHow is what you imply in itself not the “final conflict”? I see no problem with Iran developing nuclear energy; we never asked them permission for our plants, but all of a sudden America has to police the world’s energy policies?
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:55amCalm voice.
Report Post »Just keep your head in the sand.
KAdams
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:44pmNorth Korea has nukes. Ergo?
Report Post »SEPARATENOW
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:58pmThe North Koreans are not the Iranians. North Korea’s leadership is living high on the hog on western aid and has no desire to be incinerated. Now, if they can get the Iranians to do some dirty work with a little nudge and some well deserved martyrdom, that’s a winner. And they win toady points with Russia and China for giving the West the finger and stopping our economy.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:57amAnd BHO wants to reduce our nuclear deterrence by 80% – great strategy. NOT
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:17amSo, we can blow up 800 cities versus 1500 cities. How is that going to make us less safer? There is no winner in Nuclear War. Even if we reduced to 200 nukes, that is still enough to destroy the world. Especially if other countries launch theirs. The nukes just between the US and Russia can blow up the world 10 times over, I think after the first volley, it’s all over. Besides to retaliate against Iran, you only need 3, and their country is done.
Report Post »KAdams
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:46pmExactly. As if Iran doesn’t realize that IF they ever decided to strike, regardless of retaliation, they’d be signing their own death warrant as well.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 4:14pm@KAdmas
Report Post »I’m less concerned with Iran lobbing nukes at us directly than I am with them providing nukes to terrorists. Iran has known connections with Hamas and Hezbollah, neither of whom has a central head without which the groups would collapse. They needn’t fear retaliation and neither would Iran. More importantly, if Iran would be unwilling to attack us, it stands to reason the reverse would be true.
goodgrubguy
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:52amThe second they say it’s a real success, the Isreali military will reduce it to rubel, hopefully with our help. I can hear the music in the cockpit now….”I shot the sharif (I know it’s Sherrif but I like the sound of Sharif)“ and ”Rock the Casbah“ and ”Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”. Iran cannot go Nuclear!
Report Post »code green
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:01amTry “sheriff ”
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:50amI saw this picture earlier… IT HAS BEEN “DOCTORED!” Ron Paul was standing there right next to Oliver Stone’s son!
Report Post »USPATRIOT101
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:11amWhy is Racheal Maddow wearing a mask, as if we don‘t know it’s her.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:18amHeh-heh-heh USPAT! Rotflmao!
Report Post »USPATRIOT101
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:28amoh will the pageantry ever end?!?!? It‘s Martin Bashir giving a tuggy to ole’ nutty-by-nature!!
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:40amYou‘re killin’ me USPAT! I
If you take a real close look at the picture all the bad actors here are looking up. It‘s as if they’re mesmerized by something. Now I remember where I saw this pic? It was taken in Iowa during the Caucus. They were part of Paul’s non-Conservative base who crossed over to Caucus for him. Here they are attending one of his speeches.
Report Post »USPATRIOT101
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:59amOr perhaps to achieve a more believable ruse, I’m sure they have some strategically dangled medicinal marijuana to capture full attention.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:11pmHa USPAT!
Do you see the “Press TV’ logo on the picture? Ron Paul knows his Press TV. He’s said some rather disturbing things regarding Israel (pro-Palestinian) on Press TV. I guess he figures if the media here blacks him out…. well… he won’t be detered.
RT TV (Russia Today TV) has a soft spot for him too.
Report Post »resme
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 6:43pmTwo sad little individuals. I can’t help but pity you both.
Have a nice day, Stay safe.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:45amThe rods are made from Humas, totally green and tasty.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:07pmSpare the rod, spoil the sharia.
Report Post »DD313
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:07pmThe rods are made from humans, totally green and soylent.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:17pmIts people!!!!!!!
Report Post »KAdams
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:55pmSan Onofre: Rods that are only 20 months old show corrosion; Plant worker falls of catwalk into SFP (spent fuel pool).
Boeing 787 tail section issues: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10783987 All Boeings went to All Nippon Airlines. (possible radiation damage?)
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/delamination-prompts-boeing-to-inspect-787-fleet-367793/
Nuclear isn’t the way to go. As if it made sense to use such toxic materials to heat water for steam-powered generators….
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